Sun safety
Avoid the burn in summer
Although some sunshine is good for children as it helps them to
make vitamin D, which is needed to build strong bones, their skin
is naturally delicate and very easily damaged by the sun’s rays.
It’s important to remember that it’s not only on foreign holidays
that you need to take care, as the sun in the UK can be strong
during the summer months and children spend a lot of time playing
out doors.
Teaching children safe sun habits while they are young builds a
good foundation for later life. Remember you can burn in the UK.
The Great British sun is quite capable of burning a child. Take
extra care at home as well as abroad.
Keep babies in complete shade: under trees, umbrellas, canopies or
indoors, and always provide shade for prams and buggies. Try to
keep all children in a shaded area between 11am and 3pm, when the
sun tends to be at its strongest.
When outdoors, protect children’s skin with loose-fitting
clothes and a wide-brimmed hat that shades their face, neck and
ears. The wider the brim, the more skin will be protected from the
sun.
Buy good-quality, wraparound sunglasses for children as soon as
they can wear them. Sunglasses don’t have to be expensive brands
but they should feature the “CE Mark” and British Standard (BS EN
1836:1997), a UV 400 label, or a statement that the sunglasses
offer 100% UV protection.
Use factor 15 or higher sunscreen and choose a brand that has a
four or five star rating and protects against both UVA and UVB
rays. Choose sunscreens that are formulated for children and
babies’ skin as these products are less likely to contain alcohol
or fragrances that might irritate the skin and cause allergic
reactions. When applying, pay particular attention to areas that
may not be covered by clothing, such as the face, ears, feet and
backs of hands. If they don’t already, ask parents to provide you
with a bottle of factor 15+ sunscreen with their child’s name
clearly labelled on it. Also ask them to sign a permission form to
allow you to apply (or help apply) sunscreen to the child. Download
a sample permission form here.
Put some on before children go outdoors then reapply regularly to
be sure of good coverage. Use waterproof brands if children are
swimming or playing outdoors with water, and always reapply after
drying the child with a towel.
Each year over 10,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with
malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, and over
2,000 die from the disease. Most skin cancers are caused by too
much ultraviolet (UV) radiation, so if people take care not to burn
in the sun and don’t use sunbeds, the majority of cases of
malignant melanoma could be prevented.
One of the best ways to teach children about sun safety and how
to protect their skin is to lead by example. Take every precaution
to prevent sunburn by ensuring you and the children you care for
wear appropriate clothing and factor 15 or higher sunscreen. For
more information on Cancer Research UK’s SunSmart campaign, visit
www.sunsmart.org.uk (external
link).