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Walkers and Supporters urged to be Safe in the Sun this Parish Walk 23 June 2010 As participants and supporters make their final preparations for this weekend’s Parish Walk, the Department of Health’s Public Health Directorate would like to remind all those who are taking part in this event to use sunscreen and ensure that they have ample supplies of water or other appropriate drinks to avoid the risk of dehydration. Hon David Anderson MHK, Minister for Health, said: The Department works hard to promote safety in the sun. The annual Parish Walk is a fantastic community event, but as with any endurance activity, especially one held in the summer months, walkers and those supporting them should be aware of the dangers of excessive exposure to the sun and take adequate measures to protect their skin and keep hydrated. I think the key message is to burn calories and not your skin! Dawn Henley, Public Health Strategist, said: We have enjoyed some very good weather recently and I hope this will continue over the weekend. The duration of this event means that participants and supporters may be out in the sun for long periods and through parts of the day when the sun is at its strongest. Our advice is for people to apply at least Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15 sunscreen before the event and re-apply it regularly because sunscreen can be easily rubbed off due to sweating. It is very important to keep hydrated throughout the event and it is advisable to drink small amounts of fluid regularly throughout the day. The Department of Health would like to wish all participants well in this enjoyable and challenging annual event. More stories >>>
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