A hat turned out to be the best souvenir I purchased during my recent trip to Washington D.C. I don’t normally wear hats, but while chaperoning our Ohio 4-H delegation to Citizenship Washington Focus, I found that I needed some extra protection from the sun, and the white bucket hat with a row of blue stars caught my eye. I added it to my arsenal of sunglasses, sunscreen and water bottle needed on those consecutive 90-degree days.

During these summer months, it’s a good time to talk about taking extra precautions to prevent overexposure to the sun’s harmful rays. July is Ultraviolet (UV) Safety Awareness Month. The goal of this month is to educate people about the dangers of UV rays and the effects that exposure to UV radiation has on the body.

UV radiation is a form of invisible radiation that comes naturally from the sun’s rays. UV radiation can also be used in an artificial form in tanning beds and sunlamps, and less commonly in certain types of lights and lasers. While UV radiation offers some benefits, such as Vitamin D, overexposure can lead to health risks to the skin and eyes, such as sunburn, skin cancer, and eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

UV radiation is at its highest when and where the sun’s rays are the strongest. This means that UV levels will be highest around noon on a clear sunny day, even more so during the summer months. UV levels will also be highest near surfaces that reflect sunlight, such as snow or sand, and it’s more pervasive at higher altitudes.

According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common cause of cancer in the United States, with more than 5 million cases diagnosed each year.

So, how can you protect yourself from UV radiation? Here are some tips:

• Minimize your exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the hours when UV rays are the strongest.
• Apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30 to all exposed skin, including your face, ears, and the back of your neck. Be sure to reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
• Wear sunglasses with a UV coating (the label should say 100 percent UVA/UVB protection).
• Wear a hat with a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck.
• Wear clothes that provide different levels of UV protection such as long-sleeved shirts made from breathable fabrics.
• Apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor\(SPF) of at least 30 to all exposed skin, including your face, ears, and the back of your neck. Be sure to reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
• Avoid tanning beds. Tanning beds expose your skin to UV
• Radiation, which increases your risk of skin cancer and premature aging.
• Get regular skin exams. Check your skin regularly for any new or unusual growths and see your medical provider if you notice anything that concerns you.

UV safety is especially important for those with darker skin tones, who may think they don’t need to worry about sun protection. However, while darker skin tones do have more natural protection against UV radiation, they are still at risk for skin cancer and other UV-related health problems.

          It’s also important to think about UV safety for children. Childhood sunburns can greatly increase the risk of skin cancer later in life, so it’s crucial to protect children from the sun’s harmful rays. Infants under 6 months should always be kept out of direct sunlight, and older children should wear hats and protective clothing, and use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30.
          Be sure to enjoy the sunshine during these summer months, but remember to practice UV safety. By taking steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from harmful rays, you can greatly reduce your risk of skin cancer and other UV-related health problems.

Laurie Sidle is an Ohio State University Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H program assistant and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or sidle.31@osu.edu
This article was previously published in The Daily Record.