Artigenda
Stay Out Of The Sun Day
When: annually, July 3.
This day is there to create awareness about staying outdoors, in or under the sun. In the summer months.
Short- and long-term
It doesn’t make sense not to follow this advice in a summer month, does it? On this third day of July, that’s exactly what it’s about, and not just on this day. It’s about how you consciously handle the way you spend time outside in the outdoors in the summer months. It’s about awareness. There can be consequences if you spend too long outside. Short-term or long-term.
Short term
The short-term consequences can already be profound. Think of becoming crippled by the heat or dehydration symptoms. This can lead to various (health) complaints, ranging from problems with orientation to fainting or much worse.
Long-term
Short-term consequences can spill over into longer-term consequences. Consider health consequences due to dehydration, for example. Another example of longer-term health damage is combustion symptoms. This too involves short-term symptoms, which have long-term consequences.
Skin cancer
Perhaps the best-known example is the disease of skin cancer. A long-term effect is caused by the consequences of carelessness.
All this is completely illogical on warm days. Even at the beginning of July, when it is still formally spring by the way. Temperatures are rising and then most of us are not doing precisely what this day is all about. This day is meant to raise awareness. Especially for people who regularly work outdoors. Take the occasional time to think about seeking shade or shelter. It is also an option to think about what resources can be deployed to see what can be done when work does need to be done in the sun. Sunscreen is a must, face coverings and perhaps appropriate clothing. These are all things to think about.
Weather extremes
The question is whether these are all things that everyone needs to think about. Perhaps these are precisely the things that decision-makers and policymakers should be thinking about. Especially when you consider that climate change will only increase the impact of weather and weather extremes in the coming years. It is then not employees who should be thinking about it, but those with decision power.
Even when it rains...
Should it not be a work in progress, 3 July is still a good time to think about sun strength and time spent outdoors. Take some time to do that today. Even when it is raining today.
