Well done! You have made it through the winter. Now hopefully we are looking forward to lots of sunshine. But of course we need to be very careful in the SUN.
Everyone is at potential risk from too much sun exposure. People most at risk are those with fair skin, blue eyes, freckles and red or ginger hair.
Caucasian (people with white skin) have less melanin than those with black skin so they are more at risk of burning. BUT anyone can get sun burnt. Its not just sun bathing that causes sunburn; just being outdoors puts you at risk of being burnt. The sun is at the most strong between the hours of 11am and 3pm. It is very important that we never allow babies and children to develop sunburn. If they do, they should seek medical advice.
Tips
AVOID THE SUN WHEN IT IS STRONG, COVER UP AND USE HIGH FACTOR SUN SCREEN. During the months of May to September extra care needs to be taken between 11am and 3pm.
• Ensure your child is covered up, wearing a sun hat that protects the face and neck.
• Wear sunglasses if possible.
• Ensure that clothing is a tightly woven cloth so the sun does not get through and stay hydrated.
Sunscreen
Ensure you use a high factor sunscreen, which also has a high UVA protection. Factor 30 sunscreen should be used for everyone, use higher for babies.
Apply the sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going outside to let it soak into the skin. Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and always re apply after swimming, or drying yourself or your baby. DON”T forget to cover lips and ears and around the eyes. Ensure that your babies are hydrated to help avoid heat exhaustion. Keep them in the shade or out of the sun as much as possible. Remember sunscreens can go off and not work after a time – DO NOT use if out of date. If kept in the sun the sunscreen can become less protective. Wet clothes let more UV light through than dry clothes.
REF www.patientuk.co.uk
Rebecca Willcox, RGN – is a practice nurse, who has worked in Greenwich, administering baby immunisations for the past 15 years. Also a mother of three, Rebecca is also a Personal Trainer and Massage Therapist. Rebecca can be contacted by email here.
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