The outdoor temperatures are going to be getting hotter throughout the next couple of weeks.

With that in mind, Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf is recommending everyone to utilize sun protection strategies to prevent skin damage with either sunburns or contracting skin cancer. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio skin damage is caused by overexposure to ultraviolet rays from either the sun or tanning beds. 

“UV rays, they can reach you on cloudy and cool days, they can reach you on hot, sunny days; the rays reflect on the surfaces like water, that’s why you get a worse sunburn when you’re out on the water, because it reflects differently; (along with on) cement, sand, (or) snow.”   

Wolf notes that UV rays from the sun are the greatest between 10am and 2pm and the UV Index forecast is the strength of the sun, with any number greater than a three, people should be advised to implement ways to better protect themselves from the sun. 

Wolf says one of the best sun protection strategies is always wearing sunscreen. She advises to look for sunscreen of a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 and put it on 15 minutes prior to going outside. She adds to reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially if people are swimming or in a work environment that causes constant sweating. 

Wolf says Greene County Public Health has received another grant from the Iowa Cancer Consortium to provide free sunscreen, either from a hand pump jug or a packet, at different locations, including the Greene County Farmers Markets, at the two public pools in Jefferson and Grand Junction, daycare facilities, the county libraries, the Greene County Medical Center, McFarland Clinic in Jefferson and the dental offices.