Summer Sunburn Index
Sun Safety Tips To Ensure A Safe & Fun Okanagan Vacation
Know the sunburn index! Protect yourself from ultraviolet waves and enjoy your summer vacation in Okanagan. :-)
We all love to be outdoors in the sunshine, and protecting ourselves from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun is important, especially here under the hot Okanagan sun.
When temperatures in the Okanagan reach well into the 30's °C, for days or even weeks at a time, the best place to cool off is in the water - somewhere on one of the best beaches in the Okanagan - of course!
But if you're not used to the intense heat and sun you'll need to be more cautious and have adequate sun protection.
When you're on an Okanagan vacation, especially with kids, the last thing you want, to put a damper on your holiday, is a sunburn, or sun/heat related illness!
Why ruin a perfectly good vacation in one of the most beautiful places to visit in Canada!
Ultraviolet Waves and Ultraviolet radiation .....The Sun sends out energy, in the form of rays of light in many different wavelengths, including ultraviolet radiation. It is these ultraviolet waves that cause sunburns.
UV radiation is categorized into UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. The amount of UV you receive depends on the amount of time you spend in the sun and the strength of the sun's rays - which is measured by the UV Index.
The UV Index is a measure of the intensity of the sun's ultraviolet radiation in the sunburning spectrum. As the UV Index increases, the sun's rays can do more harm to your skin, as well as your eyes, and even your immune system.
A UV Index above 2 means you should protect yourself with sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and water, especially if you plan to be outside in the sun for more than an hour, or if you plan to be in or near the lakes, where the suns reflection off the water is even more intense.
Sun Safety Tips
Here are some summer sun safety precautions to take for your family when heading out into the sun:
You can also listen for Environment Canada's UV Index Report on a number of local Okanagan radio stations - the sunburn index is included in the local weather report whenever it is forecast to reach 3 (moderate) or more that day.