Sun Safety

Sun Safety Tip #1:

Slip on sun protective clothing. This can include a long-sleeve shirt with a collar, long pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses. Fabrics that are a dark color and tightly woven block the most sun, and polarized sunglasses can reduce glare.

Another option is specialty UV protective apparel which is produced from fabric that is rated for its level of UV protection and may be pre-treated with UV inhibiting ingredients during manufacturing. These items typically have an ultraviolet protection rating on their labels.

Sun Safety Tip #2:
Apply sunscreen regularly. Some tips when choosing and applying sunscreen:

• Children should use a sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher whenever they go outdoors.
• Look for a sunscreen that is broad spectrum and protects against both UVA and UVB rays.
• Apply sunscreen liberally on all exposed areas of the skin 20-30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every 2 hours or more often if you’re swimming or sweating
• Generally, a liberal application is 1 ounce (the amount in a shot glass) to cover all exposed parts of the body
• Use UV-protective lip balm or sunscreen on your lips
• Discard sunscreen that is past its expiration date, more than 1 year old, has been exposed to extreme high temperatures or has obvious changes in color or consistency
• Children who have sensitive skin may benefit from using gentler sunscreens. Go for titanium dioxide or zinc oxide instead of chemicals like para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), dioxybenzone, oxybenzone, or sulisobenzone. If your child has skin irritation or allergies, avoid sunscreens with alcohol, fragrances, or preservatives.

Sun Safety Tip #3:
Limit children’s time in the sun. Try and avoid being outside between 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun is the strongest. If kids do need to be outside during midday, have them take breaks and get out of the sun after 30-60 minutes of exposure. Limiting time in the sun will help reduce your child’s risk of sunburn, as well as heatstroke and dehydration.

Sun Safety Tip #4:
Seek shade. While shade can provide protection from the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, not all shade is equally protective. People can spend several hours in the shade while still receiving significant sun exposure and risking skin damage. This is because UVB rays can still reach the skin by reflection off the ground.