Sun Safety
Summer has arrived and it is time to be aware of the dangerous of prolonged sun exposure, and how to avoid any potential sun related problems.
Be sure to wear a hat to protect you from the sun, along with sun screen and your coolest looking shades to protect your eyes.
The sun is most powerful during 11:00 am - 4:00 pm, so try to avoid (or minimize) your time in the sun during this peak period. If you have to be in the sun during this time wear long sleeved shirts and pants (that fit loosely) to protect you from the damaging effects of the sun.
Consume lots of water to rehydrate your lost fluids and duck out in the shade when possible to cool down.
Sun Safety & Vehicles
A parked vehicle is no place for a pet or child, no matter how quick you think you may be. The temperature inside of a vehicle (with the window opened) can increase as much as 10 degrees, which can have fatal concequences.
The way the vehicle heats up is by the sun's shortwave radiation, which passes through the vehicle's windows, This shortwave radiation warms up anything that it touches (steering wheel, dashboard, carseat) easily to 176 to 194 degrees F (80 to 90 degrees C).
These objects heat the air by conduction and convection and give off longwave radiation which is efficient at heating up the air inside the vehicle. Cracking the window does little for ventilation and hyperthermia (heat stroke) is the main factor in fatalities for car/heat related incidences.
Hyperthermia (heatstroke) occurs when a person's temperature exceeds 104 degrees F (40 degrees C) and their thermoregulatory mechanism is overwhelmed.
Symptoms include: dizziness, disorientation, agitation, confusion, sluggishness, seizure, hot dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty, loss of consciousness, rapid heart beat, and hallucinations.
- A core body temperature of 107 degrees F (41 degrees C) is considered lethal as cells are damaged and internal organs shut down.
- Children's thermoregulatory systems are not as efficient as an adult's and their body temperatures warm at a rate 3 to 5 times faster than an adult’s.
- Do not leave a pet or child unattended in a vehicle, even for one minute.
- If you see a pet or child left unattended in a hot vehicle, call for help immediately.
- If you are unloading a vehicle, ensure everyone is out of the vehicle - do not overlook sleeping babies.
- Check before you leave your vehicle.
- Place your purse or briefcase in the back seat to remind you that your child or pet is in the backseat.
