Staying Safe in the Sun this Summer

With the right precautions, safe and sunny adventures are ahead!

The beauty of an Inogen One portable oxygen concentrator is its ability to go anywhere. It can be plugged in anywhere, and has enough battery life to last for long stretches without charging. Inogen allows users to enjoy the sunny weather in whatever capacity they prefer, but enjoying the sun can often come with the price of over-exposure to the sun.

It’s important to know the causes and dangers associated with both, in order to be fully prepared.

You should never leave your Inogen One device in a high temperature environment. But what about taking care of yourself? Much like your device, your body is vulnerable to too much sun and heat.

The National Library of Medicine says the sun can take effect in less than 15 minutes during midday sun hours. Couple that with the facts that around one third of Americans admit to not wearing sunscreen and half of all adults report at least one sunburn annually, and there is real reason to be concerned as the weather heats up in May and June.

Part of the danger of sun exposure is that the damage usually occurs unannounced. For instance, a bee sting hurts almost immediately, but sunburn may happen gradually over time without you even noticing, only to be felt hours later once the sun has gone down.

The threats of sun exposure begin, but do not end, with sunburn. Here’s the full list of potential risk factors*:

• Sunburn – red, painful skin that feels hot to the touch — usually appears within a few hours after too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from sunshine or artificial sources, such as sunlamps.

• Heat rash  – Heat rash develops when your sweat ducts — commonly referred to as pores — become blocked and perspiration is trapped under your skin.

• Skin cancer – the abnormal growth of skin cells — most often develops on skin exposed to the sun.

• Premature aging of the skin – Wrinkles, a natural part of aging, are most prominent on sun-exposed skin, such as the face, neck, hands and forearms.

• Heat stroke – the progression of two worsening heat-related conditions. When your body overheats, you first may develop heat cramps. If you don’t cool down, you may progress to symptoms of heat exhaustion, such as heavy sweating, nausea, lightheadedness and feeling faint.

• Dehydration – occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn’t have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions.

(*All definitions provided by the Mayo Clinic)

Prevention is always preferable to treatment when it comes to sun exposure. Here are a few steps anyone can take in order to limit sun exposure and risk factors:

• Lather up with sunscreen
• Cover up with layers
• Seek shade wherever possible
• Wear Sunglasses that are UVA and UVB protected.

Following each of these steps will go a long way in keeping your time in the sun a pleasant experience. As always, if you’ve been exposed to too much sun and are experiencing extreme pain or discomfort, it is best to call your doctor.

The need for medical oxygen does not keep Inogen One users from going about their business and staying active. Similarly, the sun should not be a deterrent for those that wish to get outdoors during the warmer months. You just need to enter into the sun with the proper precautions in order to have a safe, enjoyable experience!