Sun Safety Tips

We hope you are all enjoying your summer! Here are some helpful tips to stay safe in the sun. 

 SUN SAFETY TIPS
Taken from http://www.healthychildren.org and the Summer Activity Guide
Follow these simple rules to protect your family from sunburns now and from skin
cancer later in life.
-Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find
shade under a tree, umbrella, or the stroller canopy.
-When possible, dress yourself and your kids in cool, comfortable
clothing that covers the body, like lightweight cotton pants,
long sleeved shirts, and hats.
-Select clothes made with a tight weave-they protect better than
clothes with a looser weave. If you’re not sure how tight a
fabric’s weave is, hold it up to see how much light shines
through. The less light, the tighter.
-Wear a hat or cap with a brim that faces forward to shield the
face.
-Limit your sun exposure between 10am and 4pm, when UV rays
are strongest.
-Wear sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection
-Use sunscreen
-Set a good example. You can be the best teacher by practicing
sun protection yourself. Teach all members of your family how
to protect their skin and eyes.
-Sunscreen can help protect the skin from sunburn and some skin
cancers, but only if used correctly. Keep in mind that sunscreen
should be used for sun protection, not a reason to stay in the sun
longer.

Sunscreen for Babies:
-For babies younger than 6 months: Use sunscreen on small areas of the body,
such as the face and the backs of the hands, if protective clothing and shade are
not available.
-For babies older than 6 months: Apply to all areas of the body, but be careful
around the eyes. If your baby rubs sunscreen into her eyes, wipe the eyes and
hands clean with a damp cloth. If the sunscreen irritates her skin, try a
different brand or try a sunscreen stick or sunscreen or sunblock with titanium
dioxide or zinc oxide. If a rash develops talk to your doctor.