Bright blue skies, warm buoyant days, filled with moments waiting to be seized. Who doesn’t love summer? Children can’t wait to get out there and have fun!
Before letting your children step out, don’t leave them unprotected from the sun’s rays. Did you know that it is the main cause of Australia’s most common cancer – skin cancer?
Australia is blessed with abundant sunlight, however, our location makes us vulnerable to intense solar radiation. According to SunSmart, one of the longest-running skin cancer prevention programs in the world, we have one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world! Most of it is caused by exposure to the sun.
Even when the skies are cloudy, the cancer causing ultraviolet (UV) radiation is still filtering through. So don’t put off your sun protection on cloudy summer days.
Though the older you are the more vulnerable you are to getting skin cancer, it is good to keep your children protected and get them into the habit of applying it whenever they go out on sunny days.
Checking for UV levels
Not only are there more chances of sunny days and longer daylight during summer, UV radiation levels are also at their highest in the year. What’s more is that this radiation can filter through the clouds and give you a sunburn on a cloudy day.
Thankfully you don’t need to guess the UV levels by looking out your window. There are apps on your mobile phone and online sources such as the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency that can tell when UV levels will be at its highest at the time of day.
According to the Cancer Council, as a general rule, if the UV level is three or above, sun protection is recommended.
Applying proper sun protection
Putting on sun protection doesn’t have to be a mind-bending chore. Here are five easy steps from SunSmart on how to apply proper sun protection before going out:
- Slip on some sun-protective clothing, and cover as much skin as possible.
- Slop on broad spectrum SPF30 sunscreen on your skin, 20 minutes before going outdoors and replenish it every two hours.
- Slap on a hat that shades your face, head, neck, and not to forget, ears.
- Seek shade, nothing beats relaxing under the shade on a warm summer’s day, and do it often to minimise exposure.
- Slide on sunglasses that have UV protection
Making sun protection a habit for your children
Lessons about UV radiation are definitely going to fly over the heads of most children. Many adults even find it hard to grasp the concept!
Luckily, children follow by example and there is no better way to teach children about applying proper sun protection than demonstrating it yourself.
It also helps by getting them involved in picking the right sun protection. Try different types of sunscreen lotions and ask them which feels the most comfortable.
Likewise, bring them shopping so that they can pick the right sun-protective clothing that is cool and comfortable, or hats and sunglasses that they fancy.
Keep some protection handy
As anyone with children knows, plans can always change with children around! So it is best to keep an extra bottle of sunscreen and a spare hat nearby in your car or at the home’s entrance.
By demonstrating good behaviour, your children can enjoy summer’s bright, warm days today, and reduce risks on their well-being well into the future.
