It's fun to play in the sun, but did you know that too much sun can be dangerous?

When you have too much exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV), the radiation can cause immediate effects such as sunburn which in turn can lead to long-term problems such as skin cancer.  Medical research shows that the cause of Skin Cancer is nearly always overexposure to the suns harmful rays.  Don't forget it's not just our skin, it's our eyes as well.  Over exposure to harmful UV rays can lead to problems such as cataracts. The UV Index, which was developed by the National Weather Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provides important information so that we can plan our outdoor activities and prevent overexposure to the sun's rays.

The UV Index provides a good indicator of the expected risk of overexposure to the sun on a daily basis. The Index measures UV intensity levels on a scale of 1 to 11+, where low indicates a minimal risk of overexposure and 11+ means an extreme risk.  It also takes into account clouds and other local conditions that have an affect on the amount of UV radiation reaching the ground.  

When outside remember that UV is reflected off light coloured surfaces such as water, sand and snow, and, this will increase it's strength.  So, always ensure that you're covered up whilst sailing, skiing and take extra special care of children and babies playing on the beach or by the pool.

Live UV update for Europe

Whilst you should always take precautions against overexposure to the sun, please take special care to adopt the safeguards when the UV Index indicates levels of moderate or above.  And don't forget, just because it's a cloudy day, you can still burn.