Egg Harbor Township Nursing Offices
June 2021-Safe and Healthy Summer
HIGH SCHOOL
What's the Big Sweat about Dehydration?
The feel of summer is in the air! Tips on staying safe and hydrated while enjoying summertime activities linked below.
ALDER MIDDLE SCHOOL
FERNWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL
How to Protect Your Skin From the Sun
Shade
You can reduce your risk of sun damage and skin cancer by staying in the shade under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter. Your best bet to protect your skin is to use sunscreen or wear protective clothing when you’re outside—even when you’re in the shade.
Clothing
When possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and skirts, which can provide protection from UV rays. If wearing this type of clothing isn’t practical, try to wear a T-shirt or a beach cover-up. Clothes made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection. A wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one, and darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors. Some clothing is certified under international standards as offering UV protection.
Hat
For the most protection, wear a hat that has a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays. Avoid straw hats with holes that let sunlight through. A darker hat may offer more UV protection.
If you wear a baseball cap, you should also protect your ears and the back of your neck by wearing clothing that covers those areas, using sunscreen, or staying in the shade.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. They also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure.
Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection. Most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of cost, meet this standard. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen isn’t an all-protective force field. It is intended to be combined with other sun-safety approaches. Put on broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays and has an SPF of 15 or higher before you go outside. Don’t forget to put a thick layer on all exposed skin. Get help for hard-to-reach places like your back. And remember, sunscreen works best when combined with other options.
Sunscreen is not recommended for babies who are 6 months old or younger. The US Food and Drug Administration recommends keeping infants out of the sun during midday and using protective clothing if they have to be in the sun.
SPF. Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF), which is a number that rates how well they block UV rays. Higher numbers indicate more protection. You should use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher.
Reapplication. Sunscreen wears off. Put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.
Expiration date. Check the sunscreen’s expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than 3 years. Its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.
MILLER SCHOOL
DAVENPORT COMPLEX
Tips for a Healthy, Safe Summer
Maintain a routine – Lazy summer days are fun, but a consistent routine of mealtimes, activities and rest that continues through summer greatly benefit kids of all ages, as well as parents.
Motivate kids to keep moving – The outdoors is a great backdrop for all kinds of physical activities. Gather the family and enjoy these healthy outdoor physical activities together to burn calories and build strength as well as enjoyable family memories:
· Bike riding
· Walking, jogging or running
· Tennis, badminton or volleyball
· Golf or chip-and-putt
· Frisbee or football toss
· Catch and bat baseballs
· Gardening or visiting a pick-your-own produce farm
· Ladder ball, horseshoes or corn hole
Drink plenty of water – Dehydration can lead to serious illness like heat exhaustion or heat stroke and hospitalization. Make sure your child drinks plenty of water before and during activity when outdoors in hot, sunny weather – even if they aren’t thirsty -- and monitor physical activity.
Prevention is key to avoiding risks to a child’s health and safety. Mindfulness and planning before enjoying the great outdoors are especially important to avoid injuries and illnesses as well as create positive memories of fun outdoor family adventures and activities.
HAVE A FUN AND SAFE SUMMER!