Thriving in the Australian Sun: Tips for Staying Safe and Healthy

Practice Sun Safety and Protect Your Skin
It’s critical to safeguard the health of your skin, especially in Australia’s severe climate. By incorporating the following sun-smart strategies into your daily routine, you can enjoy the best of Australia’s beautiful, sunny days while prioritizing your well-being.
There is plenty to see and do in Australia, a safe and healthy place to live. Although you’ll most likely study in a town or city, you could also wish to take in the breathtaking natural beauty of the nation’s rivers, mountains, coastlines, and renowned “outback.” or ‘bush.”
Dehydration – What Is It? How Can I Prevent It?
When the body loses too much water and cannot quickly replenish it, dehydration sets in. In hot conditions, sweating can cause the body to lose water quickly. Even seemingly basic actions like breathing can cause water loss.
Serious adverse effects of dehydration include heatstroke and exhaustion, both of which can be fatal.The hot Queensland sun makes it difficult to stay hydrated, especially when exercising. Hence, it’s essential to be ready by packing water for any trip outside.
Save Your Skin
Wearing clothing and hats is one of the best ways to protect your skin from the sun. Choose a wide-brimmed hat to reduce the amount of UV radiation reaching your face and eyes, along with long-sleeved tops and trousers or long skirts to help protect your arms and legs. Close-weave materials are best as they block out most of the UV rays. Consider wearing sunsuits and clothing with a sun protection factor (SPF) if there’s a danger you’ll get wet.
Eyes Protection
Let’s not forget about your eyes. Sunglasses are not just for style; they’re like armor against sun damage. You might think that sunglasses are just about reducing the sun’s glare, but they are more than that – they are your eyes’ first line of defense against sun damage. In the short term, UV exposure can make the eyes inflamed, irritated, and sensitive. Long-term, repeated exposure to UV radiation can result in eye disorders such as cataracts (cloudy lenses) and macular degeneration, which impair vision.
Wear Protective Clothing
Cover up. If you want to spend more than an hour in the sun, wear jeans, a long-sleeved linen shirt, or a T-shirt. The ideal amount of exposed skin is minimal. Remember that your hands and feet can also burn! Your weather prediction includes a UV Alert.
The UV Alert system ranges from 1 to 10+. If it’s rated three or more, there’s a good chance of UV damage—especially if you’re young or have fair skin. A rating of three or above indicates a considerable danger of UV radiation damage, particularly for young people and those with fair skin.
The bigger the rating, the higher the chance of UV radiation damage.
Children’s Sun Safety Advice
Just a couple of bad sunburns as a kid can double the risk of pretty serious skin cancer later in life. So keep kids safe with hats, shirts, & shade. Always use sunscreen that works well and is safe for them.
Sun Protection at Educational Institutions and Daycares
When your children leave for daycare or school, make sure they pack sunscreen. While some daycare centers offer sunscreen, you can ensure it’s safe and effective by purchasing your own. Tell caregivers and schools about safe sunscreen options from EWG.
Always ask about the children’s sun safety policy, as daycare and school policies might often conflict with it. Many schools consider sunscreen a medical treatment and want formal consent before using it on a student.
Teens
Adolescents who lust for tanned skin are more inclined to sunbathe or frequent tanning clinics, which are unhealthy habits.
Researchers hypothesize that the considerable increase in melanoma incidence observed in women born after 1965 may have been driven by increased UV exposure associated with the growth of sunbeds and artificial tanning. Tanning salons can expose the skin to up to 15 times the sun’s UV radiation, and using tanning beds has been associated with a higher incidence of melanoma in women.
Being tan does not mean being healthy. Set a positive example for your teenagers by wearing sun protection whenever possible.
What About Vitamin D?
The sun helps our bodies make vitamin D, so we need to find a balance between staying protected from the sun while keeping our vitamin D levels healthy too. In Australian summers, just a few minutes of mid-morning or mid-afternoon sun on your arms and hands most days is usually enough for adults to get good vitamin D levels. Remember—the amount you need may change based on where you live, what time of year it is, and even your skin type (darker skin may need more time in the sun).
Contact Us
Contact us for a free consultation for student or visitor visas. Our immigration experts are ready to assist you.