AUGUST is Summer Sun Safety Month, which makes this month a good time to learn more about protecting yourself and your loved ones from the harmful effects of the sun while still having a great summer.

While protecting from the sun’s harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays is important all year, the sun is at its most intense temperatures during the summer, therefore, extra care needs to be taken during these months. Excess heat from the sun can be harmful to our health and can potentially be fatal.

Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies and it comes into direct contact with the sun as soon as we step outside. Continue reading for some crucial tips you’ll need this Summer Sun Safety Month.

1) Protect yourself from excessive heat stress. Record high levels of temperature have been documented worldwide as a result of climate change. Being a small island, Jamaica faces many risks of climate change, including more intense weather. What this means is our summers are getting hotter and will require extra concern from you to protect yourself. Some ways you can protect yourself during the summer months include:

• Hydrate with cool water more frequently, 8 (8oz) glasses are recommended per day.

• Avoid sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages.

• Drink more water when exercising.

•Dress for the heat — sunglasses, hats, lightweight and long-sleeved clothing.

• Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen of sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or higher to protect your skin from sun damage.

2) Spend less time outdoors. While receiving vitamin D from the sun is an extremely important reason to spend time outside, too much sun exposure can be harmful. During a heatwave or intense hot weather, if you can prevent it, it would be helpful to spend less time in the sun. The best times to go outside are in the mornings and evenings. The sun is at its most powerful from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, therefore, it would be good to stay indoors during this time and get your sun exposure during the hours outside of this.

3) Look out for those most vulnerable to heat damage. Summer Sun Safety Month encourages you to look out for those who are more vulnerable to the effects of sun damage. Those most vulnerable include the elderly, children under six years old, bedridden individuals, and those who have pre-existing health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension. If there is anyone close to you that fits into these categories, do your best to pass on and practise these tips to help protect them during this month and all year round.

4) Understand the signs of stress from heat. Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat strokes are all crucial negative effects of stress from excess heat. The following are symptoms to look out for to recognise symptoms of the above illnesses:

• Muscle cramps

• Headache

• Nausea

• Fatigue

• Dizziness, confusion and/or irritability

• Fast or shallow breathing

• Rapid heart rate

• Excessive sweating and cold, clammy skin (a sign of heat exhaustion)

• Hot, dry skin with an absence of sweating (a sign of heat stroke).

The best way to combat having a heat stroke or heat exhaustion is to move to a cooler, more ventilated space. Taking a cold shower or immersing yourself in other forms of cold water will also be extremely helpful. Additionally applying a cold compress such as an icepack directly to your skin, particularly to your neck and armpits can help cool you down and regulate your temperature. Lastly, drinking water or a sports drink will also be helpful. If you observe someone facing heat exhaustion who has lost consciousness or had a seizure, call or visit emergency health services immediately to assist you.

5) If you notice anything unusual on your skin, contact your health-care provider. Particularly if you spend much of your time in the sun, extended exposure and frequent sun damage to your skin can result in much more serious issues later on. Skin cancer often looks like an unusual patch, bump, or growth on the skin. If you do spot anything that may be concerning, it’s important to reach out to your doctor for them to assess this. If it does happen to be skin cancer, catching it early can make a world of a difference for you and your treatment.

Telemedicine and summer sun safety

Telemedicine platforms such as MDLink are crucial in practising summer sun safety. If you are experiencing any non-emergent cases of heat exhaustion from the sun and are not in a position to visit a doctor’s office you can reach out to a doctor online and discuss with them what your symptoms are and why you are concerned. This can be done in a timely manner before you experience any further effects. Your doctor can then guide you on some tips and tricks to feel better in the sun and protect you and your loved ones.

Additionally, if you do have an unusual rash, spot, or growth on your skin, you can send a photo of this to your doctor via the telemedicine platform and they can either guide you in treatment by sending a prescription or they can suggest if it seems to be more emergent and needs in-person inspection or treatment.

Finally, if you simply are worried about warmer weather and want to know how to protect yourself and your loved ones, telemedicine allows you to text, voice call, and/or video call your doctor. If you are the caretaker for a bedridden individual or someone with a pre-existing health condition and are worried about how the heat may affect them, discuss this online with your doctor. They will be able to give advice to ensure you prevent undue damage from the sun (and heat) this summer.

Living on a tropical island, we all have to interact with the sun in some way. However, it is important to understand both the benefits of and risks from sun exposure to be guided on how we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from undue sun damage. We cannot control the temperature but we certainly can control how we protect ourselves during these times.

Dr Ché Bowen, a digital health entrepreneur and family physician, is the CEO and founder of MDLink, a digital health company that provides telemedicine options. Check out the company’s website at www.theMDLink.com. You can also contact him at drchebowen@themdlink.com.