We’re here to inform you about the risks associated with unprotected sun exposure and things you can do to minimize your risk.

As many of us get ready to enjoy those warm rays this summer, we must remember to protect our skin and eyes from the damaging effects of the sun. The good news is there are things you can do to minimize the risk.

Cover Up: Wearing a Hat (preferably wide brimmed) or other shade-protective clothing can partly shield your skin from the harmful effects of UV ray exposure. Proper clothing may include long-sleeved shirts, pants, hats, umbrellas and sunglasses - for eye protection.

Stay in the Shade: The sun's glare is strongest at midday. Staying in the shade between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. will further protect your skin. The sun can still damage your skin on cloudy days or in the winter. That’s why it’s important to stay protected throughout the year.

Choose the Right Sunscreen: This is extremely important. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) new regulations for sunscreen labeling recommend that your sunscreen have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, and should protect against both Ultraviolet A (UV-A) and Ultraviolet B (UV-B) rays. When on antibiotics skin is more sensitive. Take pre-cautions when choosing sunscreen. Use the Right Amount of Sunscreen: According to the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, most people apply only 25- 50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen. When out in the sun, it's important that you apply at least one ounce (a palmful) of sunscreen every two hours.

You should apply it more often if you are sweating or swimming, even if the sunscreen is waterproof. By taking the proper precautions and following these guidelines you and your loved ones can enjoy the sun safely.

If you are having any problems after being in the sun, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider.

Why are the elderly frequent targets of fraud scams?

Unfortunately, elderly individuals are the most frequent targets of fraud scams. Fraudsters target the elderly, as they may be lonely, willing to listen and are more trusting than younger individuals. Many fraud schemes against the elderly are performed over the telephone, door-to-door or through advertisements.

Which are the most common scams targeting seniors?

1. Medicare - in scams involving Medicare, fraudsters pose as Medicare representatives to get seniors to give them their personal information, such as their Medicare identification number.
2. Counterfeit prescription drugs - as prices for prescription drugs increase, seniors look the internet to find cheaper prices for their medications.
3. Funerals - in one type of funeral scheme, fraudsters use obituaries to find out information about the deceased in attempts to extort money from family members or grieving spouses. They claim the deceased has an outstanding debt that must be paid immediately
4. Telephones — Phone scams are the most common scams used against the elderly. Scammers might get seniors to wire or send them money by claiming to be a family member who is in trouble and needs money. They might also solicit money from the elderly by posing as a fake charity, especially after a natural disaster.
5. Internet — since the elderly are usually not as savvy with handling emails and surfing the internet, they are easy targets for scammers. Victims have been tricked into downloading fake anti-virus software that allows scammers access to personal information on their computers.
6. The grandparent scam — this scam is extremely deceptive because it plays on the elderly’s emotions. In a grandparent scam, a scammer calls an older person and pretends to be their grandchild. They ask them if they know who is calling, and when the grandparent guesses the name of one of their grandchildren, they pretend to be that grandchild. The scammer tells the Grandparent that they are in some sort of financial bind and asks if they can send money using Western Union or MoneyGram to help them out. The scammer asks the grandparent not to tell anyone about their situation. Once the scammer receives the money, he continues to contact the grandparent and asks them to send more money.

A Con Artist May Say:

• You need to “act now” or the offer will expire
• You’ve won a free prize, but you need to pay for shipping and handling.
• You need to wire money or pay a debt with a gift card or forward money to someone.

Tips for Avoiding Scams:

• Take time to research. Have a loved one help you.
• If a caller tells you to act immediately, they are probably a con artist.
• If something seems strange about a phone call, simply say “No, thank you,” and hang up.
• Be careful of unusual emails or messages from family members. If a message contains a lot of typos or simply doesn’t sound like your loved one, it may be a hacker.

Improving Physical Performance

When you exercise, you need to stay hydrated because your body will use a lot of water. Staying hydrated during and after exercise will improve your overall physical performance. You will also be protecting your body from harm. When you are hydrated, you will reduce the fatigue that you feel after exercise. Your endurance will also be improved. Your maximum heart rate will also lower and you will not feel as sore after exercising.

Boosting Your Mood

It is not only your body that benefits from hydration as it will help your mentality as well. It has been found that people who drink more water will generally have better moods. There is one study that looked at people who usually drank 1.2 litres of water or less per day and increased this to 2.5 litres.

These people were found to experience less fatigue, sleepiness and confusion. The same study restricted people who usually drink 2 to 4 litres per day to one litre. These people felt a negative effect on their mood, had an increase in discontent, positive emotions and calmness.

Preventing Headaches

There are a number of symptoms of dehydration with headaches being one of them. In fact, water deprivation is one of the most common causes of headaches. In most cases, drinking more water will be able to alleviate a headache. However, it is important to note that dehydration can also lead to migraines. If you do not have a regular intake of water, you might be more prone to headaches and migraines. Staying hydrated could reduce the occurrence of headaches and migraines.

Boosting Your Brainpower

While a boost to your mood will generally help in many aspects of your life, hydration can also boost your brainpower. The more water you drink, the better your cognitive performance is likely to be. There are many studies which have been done that support this. These studies have found that people who drink water during cognitive tests will perform better than those that do not. These results have been found to be true for both adults and children. Other studies have suggested that even minor dehydration will cause cognitive function impairment in the short-term.

Protect Against Disease

One of the most important reasons why you should stay hydrated is a simple fact that it helps to prevent disease. There are a number of health conditions which can be prevented by staying hydrated. It is important that you know what they are and how hydration can help.

Some of these diseases will include kidney stones, constipation, urinary tract infections and coronary heart disease. It is also believed that staying hydrated can help with asthma. It is important to note that staying hydrated will not prevent these diseases completely, but will be helpful.