As the summer’s heat continues in Iowa, Greene County Public Health reminds everyone to make sure to use sunscreen effectively.

Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf says if you are going to be outside to wear sunblock of at least 30 spf. She acknowledges that for individuals using the lotion form of sunblock, to make sure to apply at least one ounce to all exposed parts of your body and to rub it in thoroughly. Wolf points out other forms of sunblock are okay to use as well, such as the spray.

“So for the sprays that’s a really easy thing for the kids, but don’t put it on their faces, and you want to go over the skin surface about four times to get a good coverage, and then rub it in. The sun sticks, those are effective too, especially if you’re going to use it like on the face, get around the eyes and that kind of thing. Because sometimes, you know, if you have sweat rolling down and you have sunscreen on your face, you’ll sometimes kind of get some eye irritation or burning.”         

Wolf advises that if you are at a swimming pool for an extended period of time or are doing excessive work outside, to reapply sunblock every two hours. She notes there are several locations across Greene County that have free sunblock available, including all of the county libraries, the Greene County Family Medicine Clinic, McFarland Clinic, Greene County Public Health Department at Greene County Medical Center, Jefferson Hy-Vee and Medicap Pharmacy.