We wanted to remind you of some of the common sun-safe mistakes that many of us make. Let’s enjoy the weekend and keep our children safe and well.
It feels like the entire country is smiling because the sun is shining. Our lovely country is finally getting a bit of sun! The great news is that the weather is set to stick around for the weekend in certain parts of the country. It is a welcomed change and families across the country are planning fun times outdoors.
We don’t want to rain on your parade (get it? Joke, there will hopefully be no rain) but it is extremely important to be sun-safe this weekend. We wanted to remind you of some of the common sun-safe mistakes that many of us make. Let’s enjoy the weekend and keep our children safe and well.
- Choose a sun cream that has a high enough SPF. Your children may be dripping with sun cream but it may not be enough to protect them from the sun’s harmful UV rays. It is recommended to use SPF 30 as a minimum but 50 is the recommendation for children.
- Will you be frequenting somewhere with water? Ensure that the sun cream is water-resistant or your efforts will be in vain. Read the directions carefully and reapply as regularly as it recommends for it to be effective.
- Sun protection is not just about sun cream. It is important to use sun-hats and light coloured lightweight clothing or UV items when in direct sunlight.
- Babies under the age of 6 months should be kept out of the sun completely. Their skin is too sensitive for sun cream.
- If your child experiences severe sunburn that blisters and causes them great discomfort it is recommended to seek medical attention.6. The back of the neck and the ears are the areas that tend to see the most sun for children however they are commonly neglected when it comes to sunscreen. Ensure that the ears and neck are adequately covered in SPF and it is reapplied regularly.
- Drinking regular amounts of fluid is often not enough. More water and drinks, in general, should be offered when the temperature is high. We don’t want our little ones to become dehydrated.
- Set a good example for your children. If you advocate lying in the sun and allowing your skin to burn you are putting your children at risk as they may choose to do the same.
