Changing summer safety guidelines

The summer months mean outdoor activities — going to the beach, the lake or the pool, working up a sweat on the softball diamond or the volleyball court, and cooking on the grill. With the fun and good eating come potential dangers: sunburn that can lead to permanent skin damage, overtaxed armchair athletes, and food poisoning brought on by badly cooked meat.
Here’s an updated list of the latest in summer safety.

Sun protection
• Old rule: At the beach, slather on the sunscreen and reapply throughout the day.
• New rule: Use sunscreen any time you go outside.

Sunscreen optimization starts in the store. Look for a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of at least 15, and SPFs of 30 or higher are better if you’re going to the beach or anywhere else where you’ll be directly exposed to the sun.

According to the experts, the way people commonly use sunscreens can compromise their effectiveness. Dermatologists suggest that the combination of distractions, improper application and failure to reapply can cut the true SPF in half. So when shopping, err on the side of overprotection.

The best time to apply sunscreen is about half an hour before you go outside. This will give your skin time to absorb it. If you use a spray-on product (great for squirmy children), spray it on, rub it in and then spray on a second coat. While you’re outside, remember to reapply sunscreen every two hours. A good way to remember to do this is to ask yourself how long it’s been whenever you see someone else rubbing some on.

Despite all the warnings about skin damage, some people believe that some exposure to the sun — say, three times a week for 20 minutes — can be healthy. Not true. Dermatologists now recommend putting sunscreen on the parts of your body that will be exposed — face, ears, back of the neck, arms — whenever you go outside. If you’re worried about running low on vitamin D, ask your doctor about supplement options.