Protecting the kids
One of the major causes of skin cancer is over-exposure to the sun during childhood or adolescence.
Many Australian children will develop irreversible skin damage by the time they are 15 years old. One blistering sunburn early on can double a persons the risk of skin cancer later in life.
However, if we prevent our kids for getting sunburn and we teach them how important protecting their skin is, then altogether, we can reduce the rate of skin cancer and skin cancer deaths in the future.
Kids will be kids, they will want to play outside and we shouldn’t stop them from doing this, but with the correct precautions and education we can make their time outdoors much safer.
By establishing safe sun habits in your family’s everyday routine you could be saving your child’s life. Baby steps is all it takes…
- Use sunscreen
Use sunscreen everyday, regardless of the weather and time of year.
Sunscreen with SPF of 30+, broad spectrum and water resistance work best. It should be applied at least 20 minutes before going outside and reapplication is recommended every two hours, especially if your kids are swimming or participating in any activity, which causes them to sweat or rub off the sunscreen.
Don’t forget their lips; protect them with either some sunscreen or lip balm with SPF.
While sunscreen is a very important preventative measure, it shouldn’t be used as the only method of sun protection but rather in conjunction with other methods. - Play in the shade
Teach your child to stay out of the sun between 11am and 3pm during daylight saving hours or between 10am and 2pm all other times of the year. At these times of the day the sun’s UV rays are at their strongest, with more than 60% of UV radiation reaching the Earth.
If they are going to be outside during this time, tell them to play in the shade. However, teach them to choose their shade carefully as UV can reflect off certain surfaces and they may still burn. - Cover them up
Be sure they are wearing clothes that give them good protection from the sun; clothes should cover as much skin as possible. Clothes with closely woven fabric, shirts with long sleeves and a collar, pants instead of shorts give the best protection but are not always practical for children. A T-shirt and long shorts that cover their legs (at least a large portion of them) are good choices but be sure you also use other methods of protection if they are wearing this type of clothing. - Put on a hat
Your child should wear a hat, which shades their face, scalp, ears and neck for the best protection. Baseball caps are ok, but they don’t protect your kid’s ears and neck. If your child is wearing this type of hat be wise and protect the exposed areas with sunscreen. - Wear sunglasses
Protect their eyes by having them wear sunglasses that meet Australian Standards. Wrap around and close fitting styles offer the best protection. Exposure to UV can cause eye problems such as cataracts later in life.
Be their role model
Children mimic those around them. If you don’t protect your own skin when in the sun your children won’t protect theirs either.
Be a role model to your kids and adopt sun safe habits yourself. If your kids see you protecting yourself it is more likely they will pick up the habit too.
Teach them the shadow rule!
If your shadow is shorter than you are it means the sun is high in the sky and UV rays are at their most intense. At this time of day they should seek some shade even if they are using other sun safe methods.
Always have some sunscreen handy
Kids often get sunburn when they are outdoors for longer than expected. Always plan ahead and have some sunscreen in your bag or car, or pack it in their backpack when they go to school.