Learn how to protect your child from the harmful rays of the sun using common sense and sunscreen to prevent sunburns.
It is important for parents to know that it is the ultraviolet rays of the sun on skin that can cause an increased risk of developing dangerous forms of skin cancer. Believing that a child does not typically develop a sunburn so is therefore not at risk for skin cancer, is false. Being exposed to ultraviolet radiation can be potentially very harmful to children whether or not they develop a sunburn or tan. Knowing the facts of sun exposure and how to minimize the risk associated with this exposure is every parent's responsibility when it comes to keeping their children safe.
Before planning any outdoor activity, it is wise to check the local weather forecast. Finding out the UV index for the day is an important factor in deciding the length of time sun exposure will be safe for your children. The UV index is a number determined by The National Weather Service on a scale of 1-11 that predicts the amount of ultraviolet radiation a particular region will have on that day due to the sun. The higher the UV index, the shorter the period of time it will take unprotected skin to burn in the sun. It is very important to a plan shorter duration of outdoor activities on days that have a higher UV index rating.
Along with checking the UV index for the day, one also should avoid sun overexposure between the hours of 11am and 3pm. During this time of day the sun's rays are the strongest and it is then that skin has the greatest potential to burn. If planning outdoor activities on a bright sunny day, it is wise to plan some time during 11am and 3pm when the children can be either indoors or in the shade so as to minimize UV exposure.
Planning outdoor activities during the hours when the sun is not at its strongest or on days when the UV index is lower, is not always practical or desired. Often families want a hot sunny day to enjoy swimming or some other form of outdoor recreation. During these times it is essential to guard your children's skin against ultraviolet rays using a good sunscreen. There are a few things to be careful of when purchasing sunscreen to use on children. First of all, check with your children's pediatrician because many sunscreens are not safe for use on children 6 months of age or younger. Secondly, a good sunscreen should protect against both UVA and UVB rays. This information will be listed on the bottle of lotion as either a product that blocks UVA and UVB rays or it will say that it is a "broad spectrum" sunscreen. Choosing a lotion with a SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 is generally considered to be sufficient for the average person. A SPF of 15 means that it will take 15 times longer for your skin to burn than it would if you were unprotected. Remember that after excessive swimming and towel drying or sweating, sunscreen must be reapplied if it is to be effective.
Another tip to keep your children safe while being exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays is to use clothing to help cover their skin. Hats with wide brims can help shield the face, and hats that have a fabric flap in the back are excellent for protecting the back of the neck. People may mistakenly believe that wearing a shirt while swimming is a good way to keep sun off their children's skin. This is not always the case. A good test to see how much protection an item of clothing will provide a child is to hold the fabric up to the sun. If light can still pass through it, than the weave is not sufficiently tight enough to offer total protection and a sunscreen should still be used. There are specially made brands of clothes, called sun protective clothing, that are manufactured to provide a sun protection factor (SPF) like sunscreen. It is only these special articles of clothing that should be considered adequate to protect skin without the use of lotion.
Keeping your children safe in the sun is an important issue during warm weather. Exposure to ultraviolet rays has been proven to be a leading cause of dangerous skin cancers as well as damage to the skin. Being knowledgeable regarding the importance of UV indexes, peak sun hours, sunscreen and sun protective clothing will help you as a parent keep your child as healthy as possible while still enjoying many different types of outdoor recreation.
