Jacob Warden, 9, could barely wait to jump in the water.
But first, his mom, Stacy Warden, sprayed on some waterproof sunscreen. She sprayed his shoulders and arms, neck and face. She was careful not to get any in his eyes.
"I'm trying the Water Babies spray for the first time; it's SPF 50," Warden said. "I decided to try the spray for convenience."
SPF represents the Sun Protection Factor, a sun block rating.
Warden, 28, of Broken Arrow, was at River Country Water Park on Monday afternoon with her mother, Rebecca Brooks, and her two children, Jacob and Marcus, 8 months.
"We've been using Water Babies lotion on my baby," she said. "When we went to Hawaii we had to put sunscreen on much more frequently. It was very hot there."
For extra protection for her youngest son, Warden said she found a special type of outdoor clothing.
"We also use this little shirt; UV Rashguard," she said. "It's 100 percent protection from UV (ultraviolet radiation from the sun)."
Park Manager Sheila Bebee said River Country has seen a lot of parents making sure they shield their children from the sun.
"We got so many requests for sunscreen that we started carrying different brands up front," she said. "We have SPF 30, 50 and 60. It's good protection for kids. A lot of them are waterproof so they can put them on before swimming."
The Skin Cancer Foundation warns the public to never sunburn; this causes DNA damage that can pave the way to skin cancer. Find shade immediately or head indoors if you start to redden or your skin starts to ache or tingle.
The foundation Web site says there are steps to take if you accidentally get sunburned. First, do what you can to relieve the discomfort.
"Sunburn literally cooks the protein in the skin," says Dr. Zoe Draelos, clinical associate professor of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Draelos recommends soothing the skin using a washcloth soaked in cold skim milk.
"The coolness takes out the initial fire, and the milk creates a protein film that helps ease the ensuing discomfort," Draelos said.
If your skin begins to peel afterwards -- a natural part of the healing process -- use a non-greasy moisturizer to soothe the area.
The foundation said most sunburn does not require a doctor's care. However, a fever could indicate possible heatstroke. Also, if someone is burned over a large portion of his/her body, they may require medical attention.
At Drug Warehouse on South York Street, Assistant Manager Betty West said there is a wide variety of products to prevent sunburn.
"We have special products for kids usually in a higher SPF like 50," she said. "And we have products that are tear free that won't hurt their eyes. The sunscreens for adults are usually SPF 30 or 40."
Drug Warehouse Pharmacist Brian Jones said a few medications can make people more vulnerable to sunburn.
"Some antibiotics but not all of them, and a few of the blood pressure pills and diuretics," he said. "Normally they have a special sticker on the pill bottle letting the customer know that they could be more likely to get a sunburn."
Tips
Tips to avoid sun damage outdoors:
--Seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
--Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
--Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours.
--Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
--Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months.
--Examine your skin head-to-toe every month.
--See your physician every year for a professional skin exam.
Source: The Skin Cancer Foundation To see more of the Muskogee Phoenix or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.muskogeephoenix.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Muskogee Phoenix, Okla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2008 Muskogee Phoenix, Okla.