Keep Your Eye on Safety!
July shines a light (pun totally intended) on UV Safety Awareness Month! With summer sun in full swing, it’s the perfect time to be mindful of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and how it affects your skin, eyes, and long-term health.
Here’s a quick breakdown of why it matters and how to protect yourself:
UV radiation is a form of invisible radiation that comes naturally from the sun’s rays. UV radiation can also be used in an artificial form in tanning beds and sunlamps, and less commonly in certain types of lights and lasers. While UV radiation offers some benefits, such as Vitamin D, overexposure can lead to health risks mentioned above.
Firefighters and police officers spend a lot of time outdoors. On the job eye protection is not just for incidents, it is even during our day-to-day activities both on and off duty. July is UV safety awareness month. However, eyes are at risk to UV rays all year round.
Here are some tips from the American Academy of Ophthalmology:
- Check for 100 percent UV protection: Make sure your sunglasses block 100 percent of UV-A rays and UV-B rays.
- Choose wrap-around styles. Ideally, your sunglasses should wrap all the way around to your temples, so the sun’s rays cannot enter from the side.
- Wear a hat. In addition to your sunglasses, wear a broad-brimmed hat to protect your eyes.
- Do not be fooled by clouds. The sun’s rays can pass through haze and thin clouds. Sun damage to eyes can occur anytime during the year, not just in the summertime.
- Protect your eyes during peak sun times. Sunglasses should be worn whenever outside, and it is especially important to wear sunglasses in the early afternoon and at higher altitudes, where UV light is more intense.
- Never look directly at the sun. Looking directly at the sun at any time, including during an eclipse, can lead to solar retinopathy, damage to the eye’s retina from solar radiation.
Sam DiGiovanna is a 40-year fire service veteran. He started with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, served as Fire Chief at the Monrovia Fire Department, and currently serves as Chief at the Verdugo Fire Academy in Glendale. He is Director at Large with the California State Firefighters Association, Associate Director for the California Training Officers Association and a consultant for www.Lexipol.com