Child Safety Week - Sun Safety
| Published: 24th June 2008 08:40 |
We are so excited when the sun appears that sometimes we forget to protect ourselves and our children from too much exposure.
Follow these simple tips and be Sun Safe this summer:
- - Always wear a hat when out in the sun. For children try and find a hat that covers the back of the neck as this is an area easily forgotten when applying sun cream.
- - Always wear a sunscreen with a minimum factor of 15spf. Children should be protected with factor 30 or even 50+ for babies and toddlers. Don't forget to apply extra cream or protection to shoulders, ears and faces.
- - Seek shade during the hottest part of the day, normally between 11am and 3pm. Sit under a parasol or take a break indoors.
- - Babies should not be exposed to the sun at all - their skin is delicate. Sun burn is an obvious ailment but sun stroke is not always so noticeable and can be very upsetting for the sufferer.
- - Make sure you are never over exposed to the sun - getting burnt can increase the risk of cancer.
- - Sun creams can easily wash off (even the splash resistant products), so remember to reapply if you are in and out of water.
- - Send your child to school with a hat, sun cream and a bottle of water to avoid dehydration.
Those most at risk:
- - Fair hair and freckles
- - Red hair
- - Lots of moles - check them regularly for irregularities, especially if the shape changes, the mole bleeds or is inflamed
- - History of skin cancer in the family
- - Bad sun burn in the past
- - Burn easily
