Why sun safety is important for kids? Because kids’ skin is delicate and not mature enough to absorb the sunlight for a long time. Children should learn sun safety from their parents.
Why UV protection for kids is important?
Children have sensitive skin. Thus, UV radiation can easily damage kids’ skin. The key reasons why UV rays are particularly harmful to children:
1.1. Skin Cancer Risk Increased
- Kids’ skin is sensitive. UV exposure over time increases skin cancer risk.
- Painful and skin cancer-risky sunburns are more common in children. Childhood severe sunburns increase melanoma risk.
1.2. Damage to the Eyes
- Kids’ eyes are more sensitive to sunlight. Their eyes are clearer, so more UV rays can reach inside. This can hurt their eyes right away or later.
- Solar UV light can cause eye sunburn. They may acquire cataracts and eye disorders with age.
1.3. Immune Immaturity
- Child immune systems are underdeveloped. UV radiation can suppress the immune system and slow skin cell repair.
1.4. Possible dehydration, heatstroke
- Dehydration and heat stroke can develop from excessive sun exposure in youngsters, especially in hot weather. Poor temperature control increases the risk of these disorders.
1.5. Long-Term Skin Damage
- UV exposure can cause long-term skin damage in children. Children wrinkle, age, and lose suppleness early.
- UV exposure can produce freckles and hyperpigmentation. Some may cause cancer later in life.
How to stay safe in the sun for kids?
Parents must safeguard children from UV radiation. This will prevent sunburn and skin cancer in youngsters. Parents may protect their children from UV rays by:
2.1. Apply sunscreen liberally before venturing outside into the sun:
2.2. Sun Protective Dress:
- Kids should wear long-sleeved shirts and pants if they stay long hours in the sun lights.
- Buy them clothes with a UPF label. These clothing will protect their skin from the sun.
- Give them darker clothes when they play outside. Darker clothes protect better than lighter garments.
2.3. Use Sun Hats:
- Parents should get wide-brimmed sun hats for their kids’ face, neck or ear protection of their kids. A Bucket hat gives good protection from the sun.
- If kids wear a baseball cap, it should include neck flaps to protect the back of the neck.
- During the winter, parents should buy winter hats for kids to protect part of the kids’ faces and ears from damaging UV rays.
2.4. Protect the eyes:
- To protect the eyes of their children parents should buy UV protective sunglasses.
- A wraparound sunglass will protect the eye’s sides of kids.
2.5. Seek Shade:
- During the hot summer season, try to keep children in the shade or tent. Provide them umbrellas while they are staying outside that will protect them from harmful sun rays.
2.6. Beware of reflective surfaces:
- Keep your kids away from reflective materials like water, sand, and snow, which increases UV exposure. Reapply sunscreen and use sunglasses before exposing to these reflective surfaces.
2.7. Explain sun safety habits:
- Parents should teach their youngsters the way to stay safe from harmful sun rays by doing it themselves. Kids will follow the sunscreen and sun hat-using habits of their parents.
- Parents must educate kids to protect their skin and eyes from the sun. Parents must teach youngsters sunscreen and eyewear use.
2.8. Check UV index:
- Parents should check the daily UV index of their area and take proper measures to protect their kids from UV exposure danger during high index days. Check the local weather applications or websites for the UV index report.
2.9. Avoid Tanning Beds:
- Children should avoid tanning beds because the strong light of tanning beds can hurt their skin. Avoid tanning beds for safety.
Parents should protect their children from UV radiation using these steps. The quicker kids realize the dangers of excessive sun exposure, the safer and healthier they will be for years.
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