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MedStar Health Launches National Safe Sun Week

As the summer season approaches, MedStar Health is spearheading the fifth annual National Safe Sun Week, a campaign aimed at raising awareness about the importance of sunscreen, skin cancer prevention, and safe summer activities. Kicking off on May 19 and running through Memorial Day, this initiative is a timely reminder for families to prioritize their health during the sunny days ahead.

Importance of Sunscreen

According to a recent nationwide survey by MedStar Health, nearly 40% of Americans admit they do not reapply sunscreen regularly, which should be done every two hours for optimal protection. Surprisingly, many participants cite forgetfulness as the primary reason for this lapse, with over 25% indicating they simply forget to reapply.

Dr. Allison Larson, physician executive chair of Dermatology at MedStar Health, emphasizes the need to make sunscreen application a daily habit, especially for children who are particularly vulnerable to skin damage. She notes, “This summer, let’s ensure we are making sunscreen a daily routine! Kids who endure severe sunburns are at greater risk of developing skin cancer later in life.”

Tips for Parents

To facilitate better sunscreen practices for children, Dr. Larson recommends the following tips:
1. Plan Ahead: Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before children go outside.
2. Coverage is Key: Ensure that sunscreen is applied generously to all exposed areas of skin.
3. Reapply Regularly: Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating.
4. Take It to School: Send sunscreen to school or camp for children to use before outdoor activities.
5. Make it Fun: Use silly songs to make sunscreen application enjoyable for kids.
6. For Babies: Keep infants out of direct sunlight altogether.

Awareness About Heat Illness

This year’s survey identified heat-related illness as the biggest concern for summer (35%), overshadowing sunburns (28%) and bug bites (20%). Alarmingly, many participants struggled to list symptoms or risk factors associated with heat illnesses, highlighting a lack of awareness. Heat-related conditions can vary from heat stroke to exhaustion, each necessitating immediate medical attention if severe symptoms manifest.

Preventive Measures

To combat heat illnesses, respondents were reminded to:

• - Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
• - Seek shade during peak sun hours.
• - Wear lightweight clothing.
• - Protect against sunburn to avert further heat-related risks.
• - Allow time for the body to acclimate to hot weather.

Water Safety Essentials

Safe sun practices extend to safe water activities as well. With safety in mind, over 70% of survey participants indicated they would require children to wear life jackets near open water. However, only 27% would swim with a lifeguard, while 31% planned to do so at public pools. Amanda Joy, associate medical director of MedStar Health Urgent Care, stresses the importance of swimming under lifeguard supervision to prevent accidents.

Misconceptions about treating water injuries also need addressing—44% of respondents incorrectly believe urine can treat jellyfish stings. Clinicians clarify the best response: rinse the sting site with seawater and immerse it in hot water to alleviate pain effectively.

Enjoy Safe Fun This Summer

Thus, for National Safe Sun Week, MedStar Health promotes safe sun practices and a proactive approach to summer safety. Tune into their “Sunshine Beats Sunscreen Repeats” playlist on Spotify to keep sunscreen reapplication in mind all season long!

As we embrace the unofficial start of summer, let’s all commit to enjoying the outdoors safely!