Stay out of the Sun Day
Beautiful but Deadly???
The petroglyphs of Saimaluu Tash include a large number of sun images and suggest that the people who inhabited Kyrgyzstan in ancient times were more likely than not sun worshipers. These days, that phrase has a different meaning and reflects how people enjoy activities in the sun, fishing, boating, swimming, playing games like baseball or cricket, or just sun bathing – sitting back and soaking up the sun’s rays.
Personally, I have never been very keen on sunbathing and when I went on holiday with friends, although I was willing to spend some time relaxing on a beach or at the poolside, I really wanted an equal amount of time, (at least), to go places, exploring, seeing the sights, meeting people.
So, for some people, those whom we might call modern day “sun worshipers”, the idea that one day in the middle of summer has been dedicated as “Stay Out Of The Sun Day” may seem a little odd. After all, there is some psychological evidence that, having spent the long winter months with short days and limited exposure to sunlight, people actually do feel better in summer with it’s bright sunlight and the possibilities it affords us to go out and enjoy ourselves unencumbered in a variety of activities.
On the other hand, when you think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense. Exposure to heat and the ultras violet (UV) radiation in sunlight can also bring problems. “Stay out of the Sun Day” gives us a reminder that we need to be mindful that, no matter how pleasant it is to sit back and bask in the sun, there are risks involved and it is a good idea to take a break from the sun and adopt “sun-safe behavior”.
No-one really knows how the day started, but it does seem to have been around for several years. Maybe it was originally a marketing scheme by manufacturers of sun-tan lotion but it seems to have been taken up by a number of organizations and news outlets around the world, just like the 1980′s Australian anti skin cancer campaign, ”Slip, slop, slap“, ( Slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen and slap on a hat).
Here in Kyrgyzstan, from the sandy beaches on the shores of Lake Issyk Kul to lofty mountain summits, protection from the sun rays is essential. Kyrgyzstan experiences many sunny days – which in the summer can be very hot, and the sun can be very strong. At the very least, a bad case of sunburn causes pain, discomfort and dehydration – and over exposure to the sun can be one of the causes of skin cancer - as a major health issue around the world and apparently is by far the most common form of cancer in the United States.
Altitude is actually a factor which can affect the strength of UV radiation. For every 1,000 feet (about 300m) above sea level, ultra violet radiation increases about five to six percent.
Although temperatures may be lower in the mountains as result of the higher altitudes, they can still be very warm, and the physical exertion involved in trekking, horse riding, etc., can result in loss of body fluids and salts through sweating – dehydration.
Wind will dry skin, removing the natural skin protection. Wind does not truly burn skin, but it makes skin more susceptible to sunburn and irritates already sunburned skin, a problem often called “windburn.”
Activities associated with water also increase the risk of serious sunburn since sunlight bouncing off the water’s surface attacks exposed skin. The more directly the sun is overhead, the more the reflectivity. Rough, choppy water is much more reflective than calm water. Snow is also highly reflective, reflecting as much as 85 percent as much light as water.
Here is some advice which we have put together for clients:
It is best to “limit exposure” to the sun’s rays
- by sitting in the shade during the period when they are most powerful, (that is, between 10:00am and 3:00pm);
- use a sunscreen, and reapply a coating every couple of hours, (especially if you go swimming), and even on cloudy days (as something like 40% of the sun’s ultra violet radiation can penetrate the cloud cover and reach the earth’s surface), and don’t forget to cover all parts of the body even lips, nose, ears, .
Wear appropriate clothing, dress for hot weather. In general, clothing should be thin and loose fitting to allow cooling air to circulate around the body; desert dwellers, for example, usually wear billowing robes. Loose-fitting clothing also prevents biting insects from reaching the skin, and light-coloured clothing seems to attract fewer insects than dark clothing. Light-coloured clothing is also preferable because it reflects the sun’s heat while dark clothing absorbs sunlight and increases the chance of discomfort.
A wide-brimmed hat is strongly recommended to protect the head, face and neck from heat and sunburn.
Sunglasses, especially ones that block UV light, can help to prevent squinting, (which helps to cause wrinkles), and is one more measure to help prevent the development of cataracts:
To avoid dehydration, drink lots of water at regular intervals throughout the day, (and, if possible, mix “rehydration” sachets in water to help replace lost “salts” through sweating).
It is possible that Global Warming has made the Sun more dangerous. The ozone layer is becoming very thin and letting too many dangerous rays reach us. There are many things we can do to reduce the risk of harm.
- The best thing to do is to be sensible.
- The worst thing you can do is sit in the mid-day sun – although according to Noel Coward only Mad Dogs and Englishmen do that.
Bishkek