It’s still safe to enjoy the outdoors during the pandemic. Along with keeping 2 metres from others, make sure you enjoy the sun safely!
It’s fun to be outside on a hot, sunny day. The sun’s rays feel good, but too much sun can end in a painful sunburn, and over time may lead to wrinkles, age spots, eye damage and skin cancer. Skin cancer is the number one diagnosed cancer in Canada.
By following these steps, you can still enjoy your time outdoors and protect yourself from too much sun exposure:
Check the UV index and avoid peak hours:
- When the UV Index is 3 or higher, protect your skin as much as possible. In general, the UV Index in Canada can be higher from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. between April and September, even when it’s cloudy.
- Whenever possible, plan outdoor activities for before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m. between April and September.
Seek shade:
- Look for shaded areas, like under a tree, or create your own shade.
- Don’t be fooled by cloudy, foggy or hazy days, as over 80% of UV rays can still get through light cloud cover.
- Be cautious of reflected sun (e.g., from water, snow, sand, pavement, and walls).
Cover up:
- Wear loose, tightly woven clothing to protect as much of your skin as possible.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat that protects your head, face, ears, and neck.
- Choose and wear sunglasses or eyeglasses with UV-protective lenses when outdoors all year round.
Use sunscreen:
- Apply a broad-spectrum UVA and UVB, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
- Use a sunscreen lip balm to protect lips.
- Apply generously and make sure you apply to the most often forgotten body areas: upper and lower back, tips of ears, neck and tops of feet.
- Reapply after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.
- Apply sunscreen before other skin products.
Links:
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/weather-health/uv-index-sun-safety.html