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Safety In The Sun – Tips For Protecting Your Family

Our summer months can be quite challenging for family fun! Historically we experience the heat advisory lingering for days on end which is why it’s important to protect your family from the sun rays that beat down on us throughout the day. Here are some tips for you to follow before you and your kids head out the door to protect your family from the long term effects of over exposure to the sun:

Apply early and repeat. For kids 6 months and older (as well as adults), sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or greater reduces the intensity of UVRs that cause sunburns. Apply liberally 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure so it can absorb into the skin and decrease the likelihood that it will be washed off. Reapply every two hours and after kids swim, sweat or dry off with a towel. For most users, proper application and reapplication are more important factors than using a product with a higher SPF.

Cover. Dress kids in protective clothing and hats. Clothing can be an excellent barrier of UV rays. Many light-weight, sun-protective styles cover the neck, elbows and knees.

Keep infants out of the sun. Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight, dressed in cool, comfortable clothing and wearing hats with brims. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says sunscreen may be used on infants younger than 6 months on small areas of skin if adequate clothing and shade are not available.

Plan early morning play. For kids beyond that baby stage, the health professionals advise parents to plan outdoor activities to avoid peak sun hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) as much as possible.

If you have active kids that love the outdoors, simply be aware of and encourage “sun breaks” when needed.

Beware of shade. Many people think sitting in the shade is a simple sun compromise. Shade does provide relief from the heat, but it offers parents a false sense of security about UVR protection. You can still get a sunburn in the shade, because light is scattered and reflected. A fair-skinned person sitting under a tree can burn in less than an hour.

Check the weather. Look for the UV index on a site like Weather.com when planning outdoor activities. It predicts the intensity of UV light based on the sun’s position, cloud movements, altitude, ozone data and other factors. Higher UV index numbers predict more intense UV light.

Information Reprint from Source: Care.com — https://www.care.com/c/stories/3357/summer-safety-tips-a-guide-to-protecting-kids-from-heat/

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