You got so relaxed
that you fell asleep in the pool.
You wake up hours later
with your skin feeling super hot
and your face all swollen.
You try to get up,
but you feel dizzy and nauseous.
What is happening to you?
Sun poisoning is like an allergic reaction
to over-exposure to UV rays
and radiation from the Sun.
It can result in blisters,
a rash on the sunburned skin,
dehydration, dizziness, headache,
nausea and even fever.
Every year,
one in three Americans
gets sunburned.
And prolonged exposure to the Sun,
as well as repeated sunburns,
can put you at risk
of developing skin cancer.
It's the most common type of cancer.
In the U.S.,
about 5 million people
are treated for this condition each year.
So what can you do to protect yourself?
If you’re planning to spend
your day in the sun,
remember to stay hydrated.
Severe sunburn causes dehydration.
This means that your body
will lose its ability to cool itself
since there’s no water left inside
to sweat out.
Your body will overheat,
and your temperature will elevate.
Staying in sunlight
could heat your skin so much
that it can’t stay hydrated enough.
Then you might need to be
hospitalized for a few days
so your body can recover
its electrolyte levels.
If you or someone near you
is showing symptoms of sun poisoning,
move to a cool location immediately.
Apply cold, damp compresses.
Do not wash the skin with soap
or over-the-counter creams
since those might seal
the heat in the skin.
If you have blisters,
they can become infected
by the soap or lotions.
Instead, put aloe vera gel
gently over the blisters and skin.
If the person shows any signs of confusion
or seems disoriented,
get medical help fast.
In 2018, a British woman named Holly
was on vacation in Tenerife, Spain.
After a day in the sun
she started to feel her face swelling.
She took a shower,
but it only made things worse.
A few days later,
when she woke up,
she couldn't open her eyes.
Holly thought she was in danger
of going blind.
It took a week
for the swelling to go down.
After that,
she became an advocate for using
sunscreen at all times
and UV-protective sunglasses.
Since the sunglasses she had worn
were not strong enough
to protect her eyes for a day in the sun.
Sun poisoning or severe sunburn
is most likely to affect people
with pale skin,
pale eyes
and blond or red hair.
Babies and young children
with these characteristics
are especially at risk.
People with lighter complexions
also have a higher risk of skin cancer.
But regardless of your complexion,
try to limit your sun exposure,
especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
when the Sun’s rays are the most intense.
After being in sunlight,
your skin could become a little pink.
That’s a normal sunburn.
But if your skin starts looking red,
as dark as a strawberry,
feels hot to the touch
or you start to feel chills
even if it's a hot summer day,
don’t laugh it off.
Those are signs of sun poisoning
or severe sunburn.
Ignoring it can cause serious complications
like losing consciousness,
at which point someone should dial 911.
You survived sun poisoning,
so now you can continue
to enjoy your summer.
What about enjoying a waterslide?
Sure it sounds like fun,
but what if you fall off?
Did you know there's a water slide
that's so dangerous
it took someone's head off?
Find out more,
here
on How to Survive.