Summer health tips

It’s that time of year again when the temperature rises and the beach beckons. While summer usually means longer days and more time to get out and enjoy the sunshine, it also means we need to be sun smart and have an active plan for managing the heat.

Beat the heat and still stay active this summer with these summer lovin’ tips:

Water all the way

One of the best ways to keep your summer cool is to drink plenty of water. Keep dehydration at bay by drinking water, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol, sugary drinks and too much tea or coffee as these can make dehydration worse.

Keep your cool

Avoiding the sun during the hottest part of the day, drinking cool drinks and eating smaller, cold meals can help you keep your cool. Enjoy the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables available in summer, crisp salads and green smoothies can help you stay cool and give you a great vitamin and mineral boost.

Keeping your house cool by closing curtains and blinds during the heat of the day, using air conditioning or spending time in an air-conditioned space library or shopping centre can help you stay cool. Remember to wear natural fibres that let your skin breathe.

Stay sun smart

Protect yourself from sunburn and stay cool by being sun smart and avoiding exposure to UV radiation. Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day and check the UV levels, whatever the weather. If the UV index is three or above, the suns rays are strong enough to damage your skin.

Eye protection during summer

Protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays is important all year round, but the need is heightened during the longer summer days.

It’s recommended to look after your eyes during summer you:

• Wear sunglasses with full UV protection — Look for sunnies labelled UV400 or 100 per cent UV protection, to block the full spectrum of UVA and UVB rays.

• Buy sunglasses tested to Australian standards — Sunglasses bought online can be of poor quality and may not be tested to Australian standards. Do your research before buying.

• Choose the right lens style for you — Wraparound styles provide better eye protection from UV rays and shatter-proof polycarbonate lenses can help protect your eyes from injury when you’re playing sport.

• Wear a hat and sunnies — Always wear a hat outside, not just sunglasses for even better UV light protection.

• Always wear goggles when swimming — Goggles protect your eyes from microorganisms that can cause infection when swimming. Even in chlorinated pools, some microorganisms may survive and cause infection. If you wear contact lenses, you’re more susceptible to infection as your eyes are prone to irritation.

• Protect your eyes when you DIY — Summer usually sees more of us spruiking up our homes and working in the garden. Prevent injury from exposure to hazardous chemicals or flying debris by wearing glasses, goggles or a face mask.

Enjoying the summer sun is all about protecting yourself from UV radiation and developing a strategy to help you manage the heat. Heat-related illnesses can quickly impact our community’s most vulnerable, including the elderly, young children, and people with pre-existing medical conditions. So when the mercury begins to rise, remember your sunscreen, sunglasses and hat, find a cool place to while away the hot part of the day, and keep an eye on your neighbours too.

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