Sun Definitely Out for Sun Safety Week

Ocean County will mark with a series of tips aimed at keeping people from getting too much sun and the skin cancer than can result, according to Freeholder Gerry P. Little.

"Block the sun, not the fun,’’ is the theme of this year’s observance, now under way, according to Public Health Coordinator Daniel Regenye.

He recommends using a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15, but cautions that mixing one with insect repellent can dilute the effect of the sunscreen by as much as a third. Higher SPF sunscreens can offset that dilution, he said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and National Weather Service post daily UV indexes that are keys to knowing how bright the sun will be and its ultraviolet power each day.

Regeney recommended people stay in the shade when the sun’s ultraviolet rays are strongest, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. He said sunglasses should be capable of blocking at least 99 percent of ultraviolet rays.

People get sunburned in the dead of winter, if snow and ice reflect ultraviolet rays, he aid. k he recommended wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.