 |
Page 4 - Keeping Kids Safe in The Sun
Keeping kids safe in the sun
A hint of sunshine and the kids are off like a shot, but catch them with the sun-cream to keep that sensitive skin safe from UV damage.
Why sunscreen matters
One hint of sunshine and we’ll bet your kids are stripped off and gone, leaving you waving a sun-cream bottle and bleating for them to ‘come back right now!’. Sound familiar?
It’s enough to make you wonder whether it’s worth the effort. It is.
A child’s skin is thinner and more sensitive than an adult’s, so they are at greater risk of suffering damage from exposure to UV radiation.
The four hours either side of midday are the times at which you should take the greatest care in the sun. Avoid long periods of exposure to your skin between 10am and 3pm. Children should wear protective clothing, preferably with a high ultraviolet protection factor – UPF factor. The areas to keep covered are the neck, legs and arms. Opt for a wide brimmed or legionnaires hat (with UPF) and sunglasses (with an environmental protection factor – EPF) to protect the eyes.
Children’s skin needs high protection. Use sunscreen with a high SPF factor to protect exposed areas and choose hypoallergenic sun creams or those for children’s sensitive skin, as the chemicals in some sun creams can irritate children’s skin.
Remember that skin can burn even on cloudy days and prolonged exposure to the heat can lead to heat stroke, so take regular breaks in the shade and offer children plenty of water to drink.
Sun safety tips
-
Babies and infants should be kept out of the sun at all times.
-
Always put a broad-brimmed hat on children – a flap down the back gives added protection.
-
Invest in some sun-protection clothing or, at a pinch, dress them in cool, light-coloured clothes
-
Apply sunscreen half an hour before going outside to allow absorption, then reapply regularly, especially after swimming or towel-drying.
-
Apply sunscreen generously and use a minimum SPF15 on kids (lighter skins burn more easily so higher ratings required). Make sure sunscreen offers UVB and UVA protection.
-
Use a waterproof sunscreen (SPF15) for children when swimming or playing outdoors with water, and reapply regularly.
-
Use 100 per cent UV-blocking sunglasses with wrap-around protection.
.jpg)