If you’re planning an outdoor family adventure anytime soon, you and your family must come
well-prepared. Aside from planning activities, snacks, and other essentials, you shouldn’t
overlook sun protection. According to this study on sun-protective behaviors among American
adults, minimizing ultraviolet sunlight exposure can significantly reduce the risk of developing
skin cancer.
While Americans showed an increased prevalence of wearing sun-protective clothing and
sunscreen use in 2020, researchers noted a decrease in sun avoidance practices. As such, while
sun-protective behaviors have become more prevalent, the incidence of skin cancer continues to
rise.
Once you’ve got your outdoor family adventure fun and activities planned out, it’s essential to
ensure that you and your family are well-protected from the sun and its harmful UV rays. Doing
so will not only decrease the risk of developing severe conditions like skin cancer. Still, it will
also boost comfort and prevent side effects like sunburn, which can sometimes be inconvenient
and painful. Below, we’ll be sharing some sun protection tips for planning an outdoor family
adventure:
Wearing sunglasses
Making sure everyone in the family has a pair of sunglasses is the best way to protect the eyes
and the skin around the eyes from sun damage. Overexposure to UV radiation can damage the
eye’s surface tissues, cornea, and lens. This can lead to cataracts and eye cancers. If someone in
the family needs vision correction, many eyewear brands offer prescription sunglasses that
combine prescription lenses with darkened tints to protect against sunlight. Brands like Ray-Ban
and Oakley offer a variety of prescription sunglasses models, some of which are also meant for
children, ensuring the whole family stays protected.
If you’re planning on an outdoor adventure by the beach or other bodies of water, you may also
consider polarized sunglasses for extra protection from harsh sun glares and reflections off the
water. This eliminates the need to squint or strain in bright daylight. Roshambo Eyewear makes
children’s eyewear, including polarized sunglasses, made out of recycled materials, resulting in
durable and flexible designs that will appeal to younger ones.
Wearing UPF clothing
UPF, or sun-protective clothing, protects your skin from UV rays the same way sunglasses
protect your eyes. If you’re unfamiliar, UPF clothing has been around since the 1990s, but newer
iterations and innovations in the growing sector have evolved to make it more stylish and
appealing to the general public. Claudent makes sun-protective clothing that blends its primary
function of providing sun protection while featuring designs geared toward fashionable
millennials and Gen Z consumers.
Claudent is one of many UPF clothing brands and designers promoting sun protection and safety.
Data from Grand View Research indicates that at its pace, the UPF apparel market is expected to
climb to $1.27 billion in 2030 as more fashion-conscious consumers begin to seek out more
effective means of sun protection and big brands seek to reach this demand. Many UPF clothing
brands are also geared towards children to help promote sun safety from a young age.
Avoiding mid-day sun
Finally, another crucial sun protection tip for outdoor family fun is to plan accordingly and leave
space for flexibility and sudden changes in the schedule. In our previous post sharing family
travel tips, we emphasized timing when traveling with younger family members. While this
includes planning travel times around normal nap hours or bedtimes, you can also check the
weather forecast to plan your outdoor adventure around the hot mid-day sun. According to the
National Cancer Institute, avoiding sun exposure between mid-morning and late afternoon is best.
In case of sudden weather changes, be sure to bring accessories and other tools for sun protection.
Tinted umbrellas are good for providing shade, and if you didn’t bring one, it’s always best to seek
shade under trees or other structures when possible. It’s also important to note that even if your
family isn’t going out in the mid-day sun, sunscreen is still essential and should be reapplied at
least every two hours.
