Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging Back to Previous Spotlight On How to Lower the Risk of Heat-Related Illnesses: July 2006   Older persons are at particular risk for heat related illnesses. These illnesses can be as serious as they may be preventable. Hot weather is one of the common causes of heat illnesses. Dehydration is also a common cause of heat illness. Older adults and their caregivers should be aware of symptoms, how to prevent heat-related illness, and available assistance with paying energy bills. Click here for full story. See, Wear and Apply, During the Month of July - UV (Ultraviolet) Protection Month July 2006 Sunglasses, a floppy hat and sunscreen are the perfect prescription to help young and older Americans reduce UV (ultraviolet) levels during the summer and throughout the year. The Administration on Aging (AoA) suggest you include UV safety protection among other things you learn, talk and do something about this summer. AoA joins with American Academy of Ophthalmology in recognizing July as UV Safety Month. Recent studies have shown that prolonged exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays without protection may cause serious eye conditions that can lead to vision loss and blindness. Skin cancer, wrinkles and premature aging can also be added to this list of conditions caused by excessive UV exposure. We offer a few tips and resources to keep you UV safe. Wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays . Buying a good pair of sunglasses is not enough. You must remember to wear them whenever you’re outside. Don't be fooled by a cloudy day. The sun's rays can still burn through the haze and thin clouds. Minimize exposure to the sun during the hours when exposure could be most damaging, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children and adults should also wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses and try to stay out of the sun when its ultraviolet rays are the strongest. Try getting outdoor activities accomplished during low exposure hours. Remember, however, you can still get sunburn even in the mid-afternoon. Any time in the sun can add up to long-term sun damage, including the time spent walking the dog, window shopping, performing outdoor chores, or jogging at lunch. Even on overcast days, 30 to 60 percent of the sun's rays can penetrate to the Earth's surface Wear a hat and other protective clothing, as well as sunglasses, to protect your body from too much sun. Use 'broad spectrum sunscreens - those that contain active ingredients that absorb at least 85 percent of the UVA and UVB rays of the sun. Read labels carefully. Apply sunscreen liberally to all exposed skin, about 20 minutes before exposure, especially to easily overlooked areas: Rims of the ears Back of the neck Tops of the feet Note: For an average adult, the recommended dose is 1 ounce, or one quarter of a 4-ounce bottle, per application. Reapply every 2 hours, after being in the water, or after exercising and sweating. For more information go to: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/stayheal.html (Environmental Protection Agency. SunWise. March, 2006) What’s an UV (ultraviolet) Index? The National Weather Service (NWS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the UV Index, which predicts the next day’s ultraviolet radiation levels on a 1-11+ scale. Here’s a description of each UV Index level and tips to help you be prepared: Exposure Category Index Number Sun Protection Messages LOW Less than 2 Wear sunglasses on bright days. In winter, reflections off snow can nearly double UV strength. If you burn easily, cover up and use sunscreen. MODERATE 3-5 Take precautions, such as covering up and using sunscreen, if you will be outside. Stay in shade near midday when the sun is strongest. HIGH 6-7 Protection against sunburn is needed. Reduce time in the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Cover up, wear a hat and sunglasses, and use sunscreen. VERY HIGH 8-10 Take extra precautions. Unprotected skin will be damaged and can burn quickly. Try to avoid the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Otherwise, seek shade, cover up, wear a hat and sunglasses, and use sunscreen. EXTREME 11+ Take all precautions. Unprotected skin can burn in minutes. Beachgoers should know that white sand and other bright surfaces reflect UV and will increase UV exposure. Avoid the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Seek shade, cover up, wear a hat and sunglasses, and use sunscreen. Many SunWise resources are available to you about how you can avoid overexposure to your eyes, skin and other parts of your body, on any given day of the year. You might have fun sharing these with your friends and family both now and throughout the year: Find Today’s UV Index for your city/town at EPA’s Sunwise website: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html Young people can learn about how to protect themselves from the sun’s harmful effects with the EPA’s interactive game “Survivor Challenge,” and have fun with easy-to-use tools like “SunWise Action Tips,”. Go to: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/kids.htm The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer information on skin cancer prevention. Go to: http://www.cdc.gov/chooseyourcover/qanda.htm#2 Other Links: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SunWise Program Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Choose Your Cover Campaign Eye Health Topics from the American Academy of Ophthalmology Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology. UV Safety Month Messages for Communities. Retrieved on July 6, 2006 from http://www.aao.org/aao/patients/eyemd/uv.cfm U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Choose your cover skin cancer prevention. Retrieved on July 7, 2006 from http://www.cdc.gov/chooseyourcover/ . U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. SunWise information for communities. Retrieved on July 7, 2006 from http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/communities.html   Back to Previous