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Summer is almost upon us and that means being outside a lot more than usual. Relaxing in the sun is one of the greatest joys of the season but it can be fraught with danger and if you aren’t careful you could end up in the hospital due to sunburn, heatstroke, or dehydration. Summer-related injuries are very common and most relate to such things as swimming pool incidents or physical activity injuries.
There are other issues of which need to be aware, however, and the sun itself is of great concern. It is always tempting to sit out in the sun all day and as nice as this might be, you could be doing yourself some serious harm. The strength of the sun is not only measured by how hot the temperature is but the intensity of the UV radiation it is emitting which can be strong on an overcast day.
Enjoy Alcohol Responsibly
Enjoying the hot sun with a cold drink is of course one of the most relaxing things to do during the summer and while you could have a Coke, many of us choose to grab some beers or a bottle of wine. But this is probably one of the worst things you can do when sitting out in the hot sun for extended periods.
Alcoholic drinks like these are diuretics which means that although they are drinks, they dehydrate you. Drinking beer after beer in one sitting is known as binge drinking which according to American Addiction Centers is becoming very common among young people and binge drinking in the sun while sweating doubles the risk of serious dehydration.
Take Precautions Against UV Radiation
While the sun's temperature will cause you to perspire more as your body temperature increases, the other danger is that of UV radiation. It is not the heat of the sun that causes your skin to get sunburn but rather the intensity of the ultraviolet rays being emitted by the sun and absorbed into your skin.
If left untreated and exposed, UV rays can cause serious sunburn leading to skin issues such as wrinkles, liver spots, and melanoma (skin cancer). Doctors advise only sitting out in the sun for a maximum of 20 minutes as this is long enough to get a tan. You should also use sun protection products any time you are to expose your skin to UV and sit in the shade where possible.
Follow Covid-19 Advice
As if the harmful effects of the sun and not overdoing it a little with your alcohol isn’t enough to worry about, the dangers of Covid-19 still lurk. Vaccination plans across most countries are well underway with hundreds of millions having recorded their first dose in the UK and US, but that doesn’t mean the danger has gone.
After vaccination, you can still carry the virus and pass it on to others even if it doesn’t affect you personally. Since not everyone has received a vaccination, you might be responsible for their infection. Now the Delta variant is also being transmitted quickly in many countries and has been responsible for the recent delay in the lifting of restrictions in the UK, so stay safe and practice social distancing where necessary.
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