EPA SunWise mobile app (Photo : NOAA.gov)
Sunburn protection is important on the Fourth of July, and especially for outdoor activities such as backyard barbecues and beach vacations; and during the midday hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., which is the hottest time of the day. Taking steps such as wearing protective clothing, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30+ sunscreen are useful steps. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SunWise 4th of July mobile app can also help to avoid sunburns and other sun damage from high UV indexes.
The EPA app provides hourly and daily forecasts for the ultraviolet (UV) levels in a particular area, according to KMBZ. This will help to prevent sun overexposure.
Beachgoers such as sunbathers and surfers should be especially careful during the peak sun hours. Sunlight reflections off bright surfaces including white sand can double exposure to UV rays.
EPA app users should hit the Graph icon at the bottom of the menu to see the hour breakdown of UV intensity throughout the day. The values range from Low (Green) to Very High (Red). This information will help users to determine when they should apply more sunscreen, or stay indoors.
The United States map on the SunWise app will show the UV index forecast for various regions throughout the country, according to Heavy. Each point on the index scale equals 25 miliWatts/square meters of UV radiation. Click on DailyMap to view the map.
Throughout the dog days of summer people should check the EPA app daily. There are other skin protection steps that they can take, such as avoiding sun lamps and tanning salons.
It is also advisable to apply SPF 30+ sunscreen. This will help to ensure that users get adequate protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
More sunburns means a higher skin cancer risk. Getting five or more sunburns doubles a person's chance of developing melanoma.
