The snow has completely melted, the temperature exceeds 20°C and you are looking for tips on how to protect yourself properly from the sun? If it’s time to put away the boots and hoodies to put on shoes and light clothing, it’s time to learn how to protect yourself from the sun.
It goes without saying that kids love to play outside, especially when the weather is nice. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to know how to protect yourself from the sun so you can protect your children. Even if for you the backyard is a space to garden and rest, for your children, it is a real playground. If it’s proven that playing outside and being physically active is beneficial for your children, prolonged exposure to sunlight can be dangerous.
Discover all the risks of Uv rays as well as our tips and tricks to protect yourself from the sun.
Why protect your skin from the sun: the risks of UV rays
Even though ultraviolet rays are invisible, they are known to be one of the main causes of sunburn and skin cancer. In addition, prolonged exposure to UV rays is cumulative. This means even if direct contact with the rays is brief, they can cause long-term damage. For example, eye damage is often asymptomatic. The World Health Organization has even declared that before reaching adulthood, an average person has already received up to 80% of its total exposure to damaging UV rays.
To avoid serious health problems, discover our three tips to protect yourself from the sun.
How to protect yourself from the sun: sunscreen
The first step to ensuring your skin and your children’s skin are well protected from the sun’s harmful rays is to apply sunscreen. This is a real must during days at the beach. It is important to think about putting on sunscreen if you anticipate being exposed to the rays for a long time. Also, take great care to follow the instructions. Some sunscreens are not suitable for swimming. In addition, check the time of effectiveness and don’t hesitate to reapply sunscreen if necessary. If you or your children are more sensitive to the sun, reapply your sunscreen before the end of its effectiveness period. This will provide you with more effective protection.
Some good advice to protect your skin from the sun:
- Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the intensity of the UV rays is higher. If you plan to stay longer than 15 minutes, it’s essential to apply sunscreen.
- We strongly advise against tanning equipment.
- Encourage your children to take breaks in the shade to protect their skin.
- Favor the wearing of protective clothing, such as hats and pants;
How to choose the right sunscreen for your child?
You have surely seen it in pharmacies or heard it: the SPF. The sun protection factor is the index that estimates the degree of protection offered by a sunscreen. Generally followed by a number between 4 and 60, this abbreviation represents a ratio between the time required for the UV rays to create a sunburn with and without sunscreen. In other words, an SPF of 50 means that we can, a priori, stay 50 times longer in the sun without getting sunburned. Be sure to read the label to find out exactly how long the sunscreen is effective.
What is the best SPF?
Even if there are creams with an SPF below 15, we strongly advise against using them. The protection offered is not enough and will not protect your children adequately from the sun’s harmful rays, especially if they plan to play outside for a long time. It is preferable to choose a sunscreen whose SPF is greater than 30.
How to protect children’s skin from the sun: the umbrella
Whenever possible, it’s important for you and your children to stay in the shade. To protect yourself from the sun, we recommend the installation of a straight umbrella on your patio. This way, you and your children have a space in the shade at all times to rest and protect your skin from hot rays.
Depending on the size of your lot, you can put a umbrella with an articulated arm directly above the sandbox. Then you will be able to protect your children during their play period.
How to choose your umbrella?
The price of umbrellas varies enormously. Even if you can get an umbrella for less than $200 in a big box store, we strongly recommend choosing a custom umbrella instead. After all, custom umbrellas are:
- Durable: After one or two summers, your big box store umbrellas are tired and no longer protect you adequately. It is therefore more economical in the long run to invest in a custom-made solution.
- Adapted to your living space: Depending on your outdoor layout and the size of your patio, a straight or articulated umbrella will be a better choice. In addition, your custom umbrella is adapted to the dimensions of your patio and respects the layout already in place.
How to get a custom umbrella?
At Groupe Bellon Prestige, we are delighted to help owners of patios and balconies protect themselves from the sun and give character to their living space. You just have to click on the request a quote button and one of our experts will be happy to travel to meet you. We travel, take action and make recommendations, then do our quote quickly and for free.
The custom-made fixed awning to protect yourself from the sun
Fixed awnings are a great solution for creating shade and giving character to your home. When the awning is attached to the wall of your house, the shade created by the awning allows you to save on your air conditioning costs since it cools the room.
Where can I get an awning?
You might find them in big box stores, but buying an awning should not be taken lightly. After all, your awning should always complement your home and living space.
It’s better to take advantage of an expert’s advice, rather than entrusting this large-scale project to a clerk who does not have the knowledge or the expertise to guide you properly.
The advantages of an awning
Awnings allow you to create a permanent shade area where you and your children can stay protected from the sun’s rays. In addition, awnings give character and allow the extension of a room.
How to plan the purchase of an awning?
First, we recommend planning your budget. Then, you will need to make sure you will not need a permit to start this work. Awning regulations vary from municipality to municipality. When you are well informed and your budget is made, contact the Groupe Bellon Prestige experts to obtain a free quote. With over 125 years of experience, we are the benchmark in custom awnings.
How to protect yourself from the sun: the conclusion
As Passe-Partout said, summer is for playing! Therefore, it’s essential to think about the safety of your children and protect their skin from the sun and UV rays. A good sunscreen with an SPF higher than 30, an umbrella or awning, and voila!
Get your kids used to taking breaks and going in the shade. This will prevent them from getting sunburned. In addition, the umbrella and awning add a cachet and complete your living space.
Don’t hesitate to contact us ! Our landscaping experts are happy to help you.
