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Keeping children safe in the sun

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As summer approaches, it is important to take special care with young children and remember to follow sun safety messages to keep them safe from sun burn. Plunket has the following advice to keep your children safe in the sun...

A few minutes of gentle sunlight is good for growing children, and helps them produce vitamin D, which plays an important role in maintaining healthy bones and organs, such as the liver and kidneys. However, children can burn quickly in the sun as their delicate skin is vulnerable to sunburn. ‘Gentle’ sunlight is the light during the early morning and later afternoon through the summer months, and at most times during the winter.

Sunburn can be painful for anyone, but children are just a bit more vulnerable. Apart from the discomfort, over exposure to damaging UV light and sunburn can also lead to long term skin damage and higher risk of skin cancer later in life.

It is best to keep your child out of direct sunlight as much as possible – and remember that it is possible to burn even on a cloudy day as the UV light can penetrate cloud cover. Babies should be kept in the shade at all times.

You can protect your child from sunburn by:
•    making sure young children always wear a hat when they are outside – the Cancer Society recommends a hat with a minimum 6mm brim, or caps with flaps.
•    keeping them protected with clothes that cover their arms, legs and body.
•    restricting the amount of time they spend playing in direct sunlight. The hours between 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. are the most dangerous.
•    covering prams and buggies to protect from direct sunlight, making sure it doesn’t get too hot inside - use a UV protected sun shade on the buggy whenever possible.

What you need to know about sunscreen:
•    Talk to your pharmacist about the most suitable sunscreen for your child.
•    Be cautious about using sunscreen on babies under one year old – it is best to keep your baby out of strong sunlight.
•    An SPF30+, broad spectrum sunscreen will give you and your child maximum protection.
•    Test a small amount on the skin to avoid reactions and talk to your pharmacist if your child does show any signs of allergy to the sunscreen.
•    Apply the sunscreen to all exposed parts of the body, not covered by clothing – and bits that might become exposed as your child plays and moves around, for example the small of the back.
•    Apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside and re-apply every two hours, especially after swimming.
•    Sunscreens do have an expiry date, so check before using and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Children learn by watching your good example – seeing you wearing a hat outside and covering up with suitable clothing is setting them up with good habits for a sun safe, fun safe life!

For more information about being sun smart talk to your Plunket Nurse, call PlunketLine 0800 933 922 (7am -12midnight) or visit the Cancer Society website, www.cancernz.org.nz

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