Knowing how to protect yourself

Knowing how to protect yourself in the mountains

In mountains, summer and winter, the sun is mandatory for successful holidays.

Skiing, Hiking, Nordic walking, Bike, Mountaineering are sports that we practice during several hours. The prolonged or repeated exposure to UV effects in altitude can be a real risk for health.

Ultraviolet rays : invisible aggressors

UV are invisible and are not heating. Sunburn is a severe burn that occurs without the feeling of any immediate heat sensation, especially with the wind and the coolness in altitude. In the mountains, several factors amplify UV noxious effects on the skin:

• Altitude: during summer, UV index which reach in average 7-8 on the seaside, increases by 10% every 1000 meters above sea level. In fact, from a 1000 meters altitude, the natural protection of the ozone layer against solar rays diminishes significantly.
• Reverberation: in the mountains, it figures among your principal enemies. The fresh snow reflects UV and almost doubles the UV exposure, grass and water reflect in average 10% of the UV radiation.
• The absence of heat sensation: With the altitude, the heat sensation is less strong and the cloud coverage can be misleading.

Light or thin clouds can reinforce the intensity of the UV by spreading them.

We must know that UV go through clouds. A cloudy weather lets through more than 90% of UV. Even by cloudy weather, we have to protect ourselves efficiently.