Oh No! Did I Miss It?

Almost..............

Today is the last day to get your 2 Super Bundles!! Tonight at 12 midnight they will be all gone!

• The Healthy Living Bundle 
• The Herbs and Essential Oils Super Bundle

Don't stress.....you still have time to order if you do it quickly!

 

 

 Can you believe that each Bundle is less than $30.00 each!! 

That is such an amazing price!

Full Support provided

 

Enjoy your resources!

Lets learn how to keep our families happy and healthy this New Year!

Nurses Are The Worst..........What?

Nurses are many things to many people, we are called many things from angels to saints, but the one thing I can admit myself is that this nurse is the worst.....patient. Yes, I have a hard time doing what I should be doing, taking care of me. I am getting better at it though, I have learned that oh so hard lesson of saying no and not taking on so much. Lessons I have had to learn the hard way, trial by fire. 
Giving so much of ourselves to others and the inability to say "no" can leave any nurse without the proper time to care for herself or himself. Burned out nurses leave the profession everyday because they forget the importance of self care.

Self  care is as important as patient care now, you must advocate for yourself because nobody else will. 

Many of us work 12 hours, night shifts, over-time, 2nd jobs, go to school, then turn around and have to go home to a house full of kids, disabled spouses or elderly parents that might be ill too. I know I work a weekender position, but often feel like I work 7 days a week due to the stressors of having a disabled husband and homeschooling my kiddos. There is always something at our house to do or somewhere to go. 

Have you ever gone to work tired, irritable, lacking sleep and felt like you took that frustration out on your coworkers or even your patients? How about going to work and feeling sicker than the patients that you were caring for? Those things should not be happening. 

Taking care of yourself on a daily basis, balancing work and home environments, decreasing the level of stress you feel and learning some tools to educate yourself so you can be your own healthcare advocate will lead to a nurse that enjoys taking care of others again.

List of Awesome Self Care Tools: these are just some of the things that I find to be helpful

1. Learn how to say "NO"- this is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. You don't have to do it all, your kids don't need to do every sport or club at school, let them pick one they love. The time you spend at home as a family they will cherish more later on. 
2. SLEEP- your body heals itself and repairs itself while you sleep, you have got to get some sleep!! forget this staying up all day and trying to work all night long (unless you want to land in a ditch dead one day- that's where you are headed). I use essential oils to help me sleep, a little lavender or vetiver oil on my feet at bedtime and I have no trouble sleeping day or night.
3. ROUTINE- get yourself into a routine- your body will thank you- your sleep will come easier- for instance I work night shifts on the weekends, so my routine is to stay up all night at home on Friday nights and sleep on Saturday- my family knows this is my routine and I get my sleep, everybody is happy and I am awake to drive to work safely. What kind of routines can you set up during the week? Make a white board for the kitchen and write your routine on it, tell the family you are going to follow this, they will love you for it.
4. Eat whole foods, fresh foods and don't go without meals- this is just a no brainer, Food is energy..........if we don't eat, we don't get the fuel we need to function. Crap in is Crap out.....right?
5. Add Probiotics to your daily supplement regimen - this is one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself healthy. Your gut health is one of the most important things, it is like your 2nd brain! Billions of good bacteria live in your gut and they need to stay healthy to help you fight off any threats to your immunity. Just do it! 
6. Exercise- yes I know you are saying, when am I gonna fit that into my busy schedule, well a walk 3 time a week will make you feel so much better I am telling you. Even though I have arthritis and chronic pain, I can manage to get some walking into my busy schedule so I know you can do it too. Work your way up to swimming, biking, hiking and other activities that you can do together as a family. We love to go hiking in the mountains, it does not even feel like we are exercising but we are. Exercise is fantastic for your mood and your joints!
7. Laugh! humor is such a stress reliever, smile daily and find something to laugh about. Think positive and your life will be positive. 
8. Music soothes the savage beast-- you! I love to crank up the tunes and just get lost in the music when I am in the car, it helps me calm down and destress on the way home from work.
9. Leave your work at the door!! As an ER nurse for over 28 years now I have learned many strategies to cope with the things we see in the ER. The biggest thing is learning to leave it at the door when I clock out, that has helped me more than anything. I don't take my job home with me, or talk about what happened at work with my spouse or kids. It's just like a switch, I just turn it off. ( Unless something tragic happened, we debrief and talk at work before we even leave work- highly recommended).
10. Get organized-- get a day- planner and write everything in that planner, including your days off work, trips to the spa, your mani-pedi appt, all the things you can look forward too, schedule date nights with your significant other. Organize your house, keep things simple, don't overwhelm yourself with clutter. Plan and keep a routine for cleaning,laundry grocery shopping, bill paying etc. 
11. Slow down and Breathe! learn meditation- it is a great way to connect with your inner self and de-stress. Prayer is a fantastic way to help you in your self care journey. 
12. Try Aromatherapy- I discovered the power of essential oils and have fallen in love with the wonderful benefits they have provided my family and my health. We have felt so much better since discovering the value of these gifts from above that have been around for billions of years.
13. Unplug and get outside- yes you can do it, leave that phone, tablet, laptop or other digital device off and get outside, breath some air, smell the flowers or fresh crisp leaves or newly cut grass. We spend so much time connected to our devices that we have lost the connection to ourselves and others.
14. Explore Alternative Holistic Healthcare Options- we are always taught to use western medicine in our healthcare practices that we often forget the benefits of other types of medicine out there. I am learning so much more about the natural medicine model and a more "whole body" &  holistic approach to medicine. Medicine is much more that just prescribing a pill all the time, right?

These tips and tools are only good if you apply them, your patients, coworkers and family will surely appreciate a nurse that is the best ..................nurse he/she can be.

This post was written as part of the Nurse Blog Carnival. More posts on this topic can be found at http://thebossynurse.com. If you are interested in participating find out more details and sign up.

The Guide To Good Bacteria: Trillions of Friends

 

Good bacteria you ask? How can bacteria be good? You have trillions of good bacteria living inside right now, they help keep you well.

With over 100 trillion bacteria in our bodies we need all the good bacteria we can get. 80% of our immune system is in our gut, we need to have a healthy balance of good bacteria for it to fight off the bad.

 

I recently had a first hand experience that taught me a most valuable lesson about the relationship between my immune system and the good bacteria that lives within me.
Back in January of 2015 I developed a stubborn dental infection that required a stronger antibiotic by mouth for 10 days. After taking this medication I developed some gastrointestinal distress and general feelings of "something was just not right". As a nurse I am very in-tuned to my own body and health so I realized that the antibiotics I had been taking most likely had just wiped out the good bacteria in my gut and the bad bacteria were possibly taking over.
Several weeks went by and my GI issues just got worse, diarrhea, weight loss (15 pounds) nausea, dizziness and just feeling bad all the time. So finally I went to the doctor (nurses are so stubborn), I was diagnosed with C-diff (Clostridium Difficile) a very serious infection of the gi tract that is very difficult to get rid of.

After weeks/months of medications, diet changes and finally a natural medicine/essential oils regimen I was able to get rid of the nasty bug and get well again. Now I tell every patient that I give an antibiotic prescription to get a probiotic and take it every single day. Probiotics will keep the good bacteria in check and healthy, so that your gut can help keep you well.

 

 

 

Sweet Smell Of Health and Wellness ~ Peppermint #oilspotlight #essentialoils #nursestoolkit

Sweet smell of health and wellness-- Peppermint

Peppermint Oil 

One of my favorites, mixed with Lavender essential oil and applied to my temples, the bottom of my feet and back of my neck. Migraine gone!

I am a super believer in the power of essential oils, I have used many of them on myself, my family and even my pets. Amazing results from something from nature and not in a pill! 

~My Nurse Health Tool Kit with Peppermint~

• Anti-Nausea – Just put a drop in your water and drink it slowly. Also, rubbing a drop on your tummy soothes nausea.
• Clear Sinuses – Place on your feet, temples, chest, or simple inhale the peppermint oil. 
• Reduce Hunger Cravings – Place a drop or two in your water and drink in between meals.
• Fever-reducer – Simply place a drop on each foot or in bath water (mix with coconut oil or other carrier oil to apply to children's feet)
• Breath Freshener – place a drop on your tongue.
• Headache Relief – place a drop on your temples or the back of your neck where your pressure points are located ( I mix Lavender and sometimes Frankincense oils with Peppermint for my headache fix) 
• Bug Repellent – Place a few drops of peppermint oil on cotton balls and place where the bugs are coming in. Also, it will deter mice, spiders hate this stuff.
• Eliminates Motion Sickness – Place a drop on your tummy and temples. Also, drinking a glass of water with a drop of oil during the ride will help eliminate motion sickness.
• Diminishes Indigestion– Gently place a drop on your navel when you are experiencing uncomfortable indigestion.
• Soothes Sore Muscles – I like soaking in a tub with a few drops of peppermint oil or just rubbing the oil on your sore muscles (Add lavender, baking soda, Epson salts for a fantastic detox bath!)
• Prevents Dandruff – Place a few drops of peppermint oil in your bottle of shampoo, add some Melaluca(tea tree) oil for really stubborn flaky scalps.
• Hot Flash relief-- rub some oil on the back of your neck, forehead and anywhere else you need some cooling relief menopauseal ladies, I can attest that this really works (I put some in a roller ball with fractionated coconut oil or with witch-hazel and keep in my pocket at work-- Ahhhhhh relief) 
• Study and mental recall aid- diffuse peppermint in your study room to help with recalling information. Inhale to increase your oxygen intake by at least 25% and have better alertness.
• Night nurse pick me up- mix with lemon oil in your water and this will wake you up (make sure to use a glass or metal container) this also keeps me awake on the drive home in the am.
• Flavorings of course for all sorts of yummy recipes, I will add some soon. 
• I am sure I will think of more and add later...........

Want to learn more? click HERE for more information 

Below is a fantastic video about my favorite oil- Peppermint by one of my favorite doctors- Dr Josh Axe (draxe.com)

A simple guide to essential oils~ why are you not using them?

I can't tell you how much better I feel today by just using essential oils in my daily life. Yes I still have the usual aches and pains of a nurse that has worked for nearly 30 years, but my wellness and health is improving so much more everyday. All thanks to these wonderful little drops of love!

Stay tuned and I will share more with you, tips, recipes and other helpful hints on your health and wellness.

Order your Essential Oil tool kit today HERE  and get started on your new path.

e-Cigarettes- The Burning Truth [infographic]

So you are puffing away now on your new found e-cigarette thinking you have made a perfect healthy choice, when you discover they might not be all they been raved about. Just what is in an "e-cigarette"? 

Advertising themselves as “healthy alternatives” to cigarettes, electronic cigarettes attempt to recreate the act of smoking in a much more synthesized, scientific fashion. Using a rechargeable battery powered heater, e-cigarettes vaporize liquid nicotine as smokers take drags through the electronic cigarette’s vapor funneling system. The debate is still out on the "healthy" aspects of these cigarettes, as a healthcare professional I don't like them, but I would rather see you use this that smoking a nasty old conventional cigarette. It is a step in the right direction, helping you to quit I hope. 

There are no long term studies out yet, the FDA has not weighed in, nor approved any kind of e-cigarettes at all yet as an official smoking cessation device (so there is a clue for ya). 

Nicotine is still a drug, even though you are not getting the tar from tobacco, the nicotine has effects that do bad things to your body such as

• stroke
• cardiac ischemia events
• hypertension
• peptic ulcer disease
• high cholesterol
• esophageal reflux
• arterial constrictions
• slow wound healing 
• reduced immunity 

Infographic credit to Infographicdaily.com 

Please choose wisely, make the best choice for your health. You only have one life, live it well.

Allergic Reactions What's All The Buzz About #health #allergies

Allergic reactions are sensitivities to substances called allergens that come into contact with the skin, nose, eyes, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract. They can be breathed into the lungs, swallowed, or injected( like a sting)

Allergic reactions are common. The immune response that causes an allergic reaction is similar to the response that causes hay fever. Most reactions happen soon after contact with an allergen. Severe reactions usually happen within minutes to a couple hours after the contact.

Hives on the back of an acute allergic reaction- courtesy of WikiMedia 

Many allergic reactions are mild, while others can be severe and life-threatening. They can be confined to a small area of the body, or they may affect the entire body. The most severe form is called anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. Allergic reactions occur more often in people who have a family history of allergies.

Substances that don't bother most people (such as venom from bee stings and certain foods, medications, and pollens) can trigger allergic reactions in others.

Common Allergens

Although first-time exposure may only produce a mild reaction, repeated exposures may lead to more serious reactions. Once a person has had an exposure or an allergic reaction (is sensitized), even a very limited exposure to a very small amount of allergen can trigger a severe reaction. These people need to carry an Epipen at all times. Your doctor can prescribe one for you to use.

For example you develop a small red rash after taking an antibiotic, your body produces a reaction to that medication and sensitizes you. You are now much more likely to develop a severe or life threatening reaction the next time you take an antibiotic in the same drug family as the first one.
What are we allergic to?

It can be: foods, plants, latex, medications, dyes, insects,animals,bee stings, fibers, soaps,chemicals, you name it.

Cockroaches are a major source of allergen exposure in inner-city areas. Of the thousands of species, only a few are important sources of indoor allergens. The German and American cockroaches are the most commonly encountered (shown). Cockroach allergens are derived from saliva, feces, secretions, and dead bodies. The allergens are similar in size to house-dust mite allergens (roughly 10 μm), and remain airborne for short periods of time. An association between cockroach sensitization and asthma exacerbation has been described and may be a major source of morbidity for inner-city, low-socioeconomic patients. An image of an American cockroach is shown courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Sometimes you can develop an allergic reaction to something and never figure out the culprit unless you have testing done.

Identifying a culprit allergen can be very difficult, given the wide variety of compounds that humans are exposed to on a daily basis. A number of grid-based skin tests are available. In prick, or scratch, testing a purified allergen is intradermally injected to evaluate for a response. This method is commonly used for pet dander, dust, pollen, foods, and house-dust mites. In patch testing, allergens are kept in contact with the skin via hypoallergenic tape for an extended period of time to assess for a subsequent allergic inflammatory response. This method is commonly used for latex, medications, preservatives, and metals. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Allergic Reaction Treatment from eMedicine.com
Self-Care at Home
Avoid triggers! If you know you have an allergic reaction to peanuts, for example, do not eat them and go out of your way to avoid foods prepared with or around peanuts (see Food Allergy).
Self-care at home is not enough in severe reactions. A severe reaction is a medical emergency.
Do not attempt to treat or "wait out" severe reactions at home. Go immediately to a hospital emergency department.
If no one is available to drive you right away, call an ambulance for emergency medical transport.
Use your epinephrine auto-injector (Epi-Pen) if you have been prescribed one by your doctor due to previous allergic reactions.
Slight reactions with mild symptoms usually respond to nonprescription allergy medications.
Oral antihistamines
Loratadine (Claritin or Alavert), cetirizine (Zyrtec), and fexofenadine (Allegra) are nonsedating antihistamines that can be taken over the long term.
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can also be taken but may make you too drowsy to drive or operate machinery safely. It can affect concentration and interfere with children's learning in school. These medications should be taken for only a few days.
For rashes or skin irritations, an anti-inflammatory steroid cream such as hydrocortisone can be used.
For small, localized skin reactions, use a cold, wet cloth or ice for relief. Apply a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel as an ice pack.

Winter Dragging You Down: How Can You Stay Healthy #asktheexperts #healthtips

I was delighted to be included in this article listing some great tips to stay healthy during the long winter months. Along with some long followed professionals in the medical field I feel proud to have my tips and face included. Winter this year has been tough, here in the south we have had our share of ice, snow and low temperatures. The flu has claimed many here and there are still a few more weeks of winters long arms left to pull us down to our knees. Take the tips given seriously, even though many are simple ones. Simple tips are sometimes the best for your body.

Thank you to  Terpening Insurance for putting together this great post. 

Don’t Let Winter Drag You Down: 5 Tips to Stay Healthy

The winter months inevitably arrive with coughing and sneezing. A sudden change of colder temperature means runny noses and sore throats. You may feel like there is nothing you can do to stop from catching these symptoms, but prevention is possible! Feel your best this winter with tips from some professionals on how to stay healthy during this cold season.

1) Hydrate!

It’s easier to remember to consume H2O in the summer when you are sweating buckets and parched from thirst. The cold winter months are another story. Although you may be tempted to fill up on hot chocolate, sugar will just make your immune system weaker. RN Britney Wilson, also know as The Nerdy Nurse, passionately shares how water intake keeps you healthy.

Stay hydrated! Drink water, water, and more water. There are so many occasions where you might be tempted to drink empty calories or sugar and sodium packed beverages that may satiate a craving, but are not fulfilling your bodies desire for straight-up water.

Often, indoor heating in winter will dry you out and dehydrate you. Keep a large bottle of water with you during the day, and by your bed to make sure you continue to consume water throughout the night.

2) Sanitize, Sanitize

You may have been told the importance of washing your hands since you’ve known how to talk, but it’s easy to think it’s something we only have to do after using the restroom or before eating. In winter months, it’s especially important to keep germs from being spread. Nurse Kathy Quan, founder of The Nursing Site, tells us how to properly use hand sanitizer when washing isn’t an option.

Winter tends to be a very busy time with holidays and all as opposed to spring and summer where people tend to relax more and the mood is more laid back.  In the hurry up mode, it’s important to remember to take care of yourself. That starts with good hand washing habits. If you use hand sanitizers, understand that they are designed to air dry and during this air drying process the germs are killed. Don’t try to wipe it off, let it evaporate.

It’s convenient to carry around a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse or even attached to your keychain. Make it a habit to use regularly throughout the day, especially when you’re in a public place like a grocery store. You never know who had their hands on that cart before you!

3) Get Your 40 Winks

We asked Leslie Block, a nurse of twenty-five years, and the editor of ER Nurses Care how to stay healthy during winter, and she emphasized the importance of rest and adequate sleep.

We all seem to be busy and forget that nutrition and getting enough sleep are simple things you can do to stay healthy. If you get run down, your body’s immune system is more prone to picking up the first thing that comes along.

A good night’s sleep will do wonders for your immune system. Listen to your body. Often you can tell when you’re coming down with something by your sudden fatigue. Take a nap!

4) Take Your Vitamins

There are many natural supplements you can take to help prevent catching that bug everyone you know has. RN and Nurse Coach, Keith Carlson shares his favorite.

In terms of staying healthy over the winter, I recommend drinking a lot of water, washing hands very frequently (especially when in public places like stores and gas stations), and getting enough rest. Zinc is very helpful, especially when you’ are sick or just coming down with something.

Vitamin C and Echinacea are also helpful and available in many different forms over-the-counter, including fruit flavored chews.

5) Be Good to Yourself

The bottom line is this: take good care of yourself! It is easy to keep going through your daily routine and ignore your body until symptoms come up, but prevention is the best way to have a healthy and productive winter. Follow these simple tips by staying hydrated, clean, well-rested and filled with good nutrition. Eat a healthy and balanced diet and stay active. You will not only survive cold and flu season, but thrive with more energy and life!

Read more here http://www.terpeninginsurance.com/winter-health-tips and check out more information on their blog

Smashing Your Fears: Lung Leavin Day 2014

Today is a landmark day for a fabulous lady, "Heather Von St James", a mom, a wife, a woman and a fighter!

This post has been particularly hard for me to write due to my own mothers recent diagnosis of Stage 4 Lung Cancer ( not mesothelioma ). I am typing here bedside her bed in ICU as she struggles to breath and stay alive just one more day. My mom smoked for at least 50 years and I know she must pay the ultimate price now.

Heather on the other hand is a survivor of mesothelioma, a lung cancer seen with exposure to asbestos. She is a rare jewel, here is her story and why February 2nd is so special to her each year.

 

My name is Heather and I am an 8-year survivor of mesothelioma – a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. When I was diagnosed, I had just given birth to my little girl and was told I had 15 months to live. After undergoing a risky surgery, which required the removal of my left lung, I beat the odds and created Lung Leavin’ Day as a way to commemorate this day that changed my life forever.

Lung Leavin’ Day is now used to encourage others to face their fears! One important thing cancer taught me is the importance of acknowledging these apprehensions that prevent us from living life to the fullest extent.

Each year on February 2, friends and family gather at my house for a bonfire where we write our fears on plates and smash them into the fire.

This year, we are asking you to face your fears and raise awareness of this event by virtually participating in Lung Leavin’ Day!

I have created an interactive page that tells the full story of this special day, which can be found here: Mesothelioma.com/heather/lungleavinday

What are you fears? We all have them....let's smash them today and celebrate Heather's day with her in celebration! A celebration of life!

 

No Butts About It....Colonoscopy Saves Lives #justdoit

Holy Crap............thats about all I can say about my colonoscopy adventure last week. Nurses are the worst kind of patient, yes tis true. I recently turned another year older and had been putting off this most anxiety producing procedure for several years now. Due to the fact that my family history includes a father who had colon cancer and died with liver cancer, it was a "no brainer" per my internal medicine doctor. I should have had a first screening at age 40...............well just 9 years late, I put my mind to it and got it done.
Yes, I survived and it was not as bad as I had imagined at all.

If you have been putting off having this life saving test done, don't. Besides the prep the night before, it is not all that bad. It is the best test to detect precancerous and cancerous polyps or lesions in your large bowel or colon.
The prep that I endured was called "Suprep" and it was more like a ticking time bomb that went off several hours after I drank the 2nd bottle at 9pm the night before. It did take a couple of Zofran ODT(nausea medication) to get thru the prep, it made me sick on my stomach. It sure does work well though....sheesh. I highly suggest that you plan ahead to stay home and rest while doing your prep. You will go to the bathroom, have some abdominal discomfort and watery diarrhea that can be hard to control until it finally stops. Have a path to the bathroom and place a towel or protective barrier on your bed that night....just in case. I had several uh oh moments when the bathroom was just not close enough..... I told you this stuff worked well.....lol

I arrived at the Endoscopy center at 8am, got my IV started (took 2 sticks as usual, I am a difficult pt I told you) , hooked up to a bunch of monitors, rolled back to the procedure room and the anesthesia staff gave me some happy milk of anesthesia (propofol--Michael Jackson death juice) to sedate me. I don't remember any of the actual procedure and woke up as they rolled me into the recovery area. My hubby was waiting for me there. I felt safe and never embarrassed while I was there. The staff was great and made my experience much calmer and less stressful.

How is the procedure done? 

A colonoscopy is an exam that views the inside of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, using a tool called a colonoscope.

The colonoscope has a small camera attached to a flexible tube that can reach the length of the colon.

How the Test is Performed

You will usually be given medicine into a vein to help you relax. You should not feel any discomfort. You will be awake during the test and may even be able to speak, but you probably will not remember anything.

You will lie on your left side with your knees drawn up toward your chest. The colonoscope is inserted through the anus. It is gently moved into the beginning of the large bowel and slowly advanced as far as the lowest part of the small intestine.

Air will be inserted through the scope to provide a better view. Suction may be used to remove fluid or stool.

The health care provider gets a better view as the colonoscope is moved back out. Therefore, a more careful exam is done while the scope is being pulled back. The doctor may take tissue samples with tiny biopsy forceps inserted through the scope. Polyps may be removed with snares, and images may be taken.

Specialized procedures, such as laser therapy, may also be done.

More information can be found HERE 

Gas is what you will have post-procedure--lots of it, be prepared to toot toot toot it out as instructed by the staff, this is the only time when it is perfectly acceptable to let it all out...lol. You want to expell the gas so you don't have problems later as it rises up and causes pain & nausea. 

I feel very blessed that my colonoscopy results only showed a couple of diverticula areas and no cancerous areas. Now I only have to have this test every 5 years ( due to my family history). Normally it is every 10 years after age 50. 

Green Tea~ 11 Reasons why you should drink more

 

A simple thing you can do to boost your health and wellness, try a cup in the morning instead of your coffee, start the day off to a great one!

 

 

Caffeine {infographic} 15 Things You Should Know!

                      Source: homeownersinsurance.org via Leslie on Pinterest

Sugar Baby its Killing You!

The standard American diet is filled with sugar, we all know that sugar is sweet, but this will leave a bad taste in your mouth! Sugar is addictive and releases an opiate- like substance that activates the brain's reward system and thus we want more and more! So think about all those sodas you drink everyday when you read what the consumption of excessive sugar is linked to, I know I am in shock now. Gotta cut back myself.

                                                                      Source: mindbodygreen.com via Leslie on Pinterest

Sun Safety with your ABC's

The ABCs of Sun Safety

Always use sunscreen!
Be careful between 10AM and 4PM, the sun’s strongest hours.
Cover your head and ears with a wide-brimmed hat.
Don’t forget to take breaks from the hot sun.
Eyes are especially sensitive to the sun — protect
them too!
Factor in the right sun protection — use SPF as
your guide.
Go inside when you feel too hot.
Have fun in the sun!
Injuries can result from not drinking enough
water when it's hot outside.
Just because it’s cloudy doesn’t mean you can’t get sunburn.
Knock out sun damage — use sunscreen every day!
Long shirts and pants will help protect your skin from the sun.
Many people don’t realize the importance of wearing sunglasses.
Notice what time you apply sunscreen so you know when it’s time to reapply.
Only you can protect your skin — practice sun safety!
Pay attention to your skin — if you plan to be in the sun, cover up.
Question family members and friends who say they don’t need to use sunscreen.
Remember: too much sun can cause long-term damage to your skin.
Sun that reflects off water and snow can still give you sunburn.
Take time to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you go outside.
Urge family members to practice sun safety.
Vitamin D comes from sunlight.
Waterproof sunscreen helps when you sweat, but you still need to reapply it.
EXtra effort to protect your skin from sunburn is worth it.
You can still get sunburn, no matter what your skin type is.
Zounds! That’s a lot to remember about sun safety!

Have fun this summer, just stay safe and protect yourself and your family