Cindy did a Health Tip on sun exposure eons ago, back in September, but now that I burned my arms and neck this weekend on the beach at Fort Ross, I figured that now I�ll provide a refresher course along with some new information about heat exhaustion.You can avoid getting too severe of a sunburn by using some kind of sunscreen that has an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. You should also wear a wide-brimmed hat and subdued colors like tan or light gray. The angles of the sun�s rays are most harmful during the late morning and early afternoon.
Now, more than ever in the past, we need to limit our exposure to extensive sunlight because of the dangers of the ultraviolet radiation that is increasingly able to seep through our atmosphere�s rapidly-depleting ozone layer instead of getting bounced back off into deep space. The greenhouse effect, by the way, is where the heat from the sun is trapped here below the atmosphere due to the effects of carbon dioxide and cloroflurocarbons. This causes global warming where the earth�s average temperature rises slowly each year. Dangers include disruption of agriculture and the melting of the icecaps (you know, like in Waterworld).
Anyway, if you do get sunburned, there are some creams that you can get from the drug store which might relieve some of the pain. You can also apply a cool towel or ice, take a baking soda bath or oatmeal bath (like Aveeno), and use some pain medication. You will probably only need to go to the doctor if your vision is affected or if there is extensive blistering (which indicates a second-degree burn, rarely caused by the sun).
The first symptoms of heat exhaustion include thirst (caused by dehydration), loss of appetite, headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, heart racing, trouble concentrating. If you start to experience any of these after being out in the sun for an extended period of time, you should immediately stop what you�re doing and rest in the shade for awhile.
Drink lots of water! Doctors recommend that you drink at least a large glass of water before going out into the sun, but they say ideally you should drink 2� glasses and then continue drinking a cup every 10-15 minutes outdoors. Carry a water bottle around with you and refill it often. Other tips include keeping your shirt on (it helps with your body�s natural air-conditioning process), eating fruits and vegetables (they have high water content and good salt balance), and avoiding salt tablets which do more harm than good.
Sources:
"Take Care of Yourself", Vickery & Fries.
"Book of Home Remedies", Kirchheimer.
Cindy�s Health Tip #4, 19 Sep 1996.
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