As schools return as the weather warms, it’s important to stay protected from the strong sunrays. One way to remember how to is the 6 S’s – like the hissing of a Snake of Sun Protection: Slip, Slap, Slop, Slurp, Slide, Shade.
If you tuned into The Samantha Show on Monday 4th, you would have heard a segment about sun safety. As temperatures are predicted to reach a peak of 31°, keep in mind these 6 tips to stay safe in the heatwave.
Slip
Slip on clothing to cover your shoulders. Shoulders are the most vulnerable spots on the body, so while sun-tops are desirable in this weather, make sure you cover as much as your skin as possible! When you choose what to wear, pick a lighter colour rather than darker shades because they are more reflective of the sun’s rays – this keeps you cooler in the heat.
Slap
Slap on a broad-brimmed hat. I know, baseball caps look cool in the sunshine, but they won’t protect your ears from the rays. The hat you wear should ideally cover your face, ears, and neck. Go for the vintage cartwheel hat or adventurous boonie hat – a staple bucket hat should protect your ears too.
Slop
Slop on suncream with a factor 30+. Suncream should be worn daily, even on cloudy days, so it should definitely be applied during this heatwave! The best suncreams have a high factor number and a UVA rating of more than 4 stars. Remember to apply suncream every 2 hours, even when the bottle suggests a longer time, and put it on 20 minutes before you go outside so that it has time to sink in. Make sure you cover your ears!
Slurp
Slurp some water! Every day, the NHS recommends drinking 2 litres, or 6-8 glasses, of water. Water is essential to life because hydration helps normal bodily functions take place. In hotter weather, the body loses more fluid through sweat, so water intake must be increased. If you don’t like the taste of water, you can drink squash too, or caffeine-free drinks. Caffeinated drinks increase dehydration, so choose water or squash, and try out hydrating foods like raspberries, watermelon, or cucumber – these all count as one of your five-a-day too!
Slide
Slide on sunglasses. Not only can sunglasses look cool and be a stylish accessory to an autumnal outfit, but they also protect your eyes from UV rays. Sunglasses have EPF (eye protection factor) rankings from 1-10, with 10 being the highest. Choose sunglasses with a higher EPF rating and remember that price doesn’t affect quality.
Shade
Stay in the shade. Avoiding the direct sunlight is a great way to avoid getting either sunburn or sunstroke. Try to stay in the shade during the peak heat of the day (between 11am and 3pm), and make sure especially that children or vulnerable people are away from the sunlight. However, staying in the shade does not offer complete protection from the sun and heat, so follow the other tips too.
Remember the 6 S’s as you go about your daily life during the heatwave, whether you’re at work or starting the new school term. The September heatwave is expected to last until Sunday 10th September, before typical autumn weather (yes, rain) is expected to arrive. Follow local guidance and regularly check weather predictions to ensure maximum safety.
Thank you for reading this article. You might have heard this advice on The Samantha Show, which will return soon so stay tuned to HillzFM – keep it locked and loaded!
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