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Why
is sun protection important?
Most of the health problems related to exposure to the sun,
including skin cancer, appear in adulthood. Yet most of
the damage which causes these problems occurs in childhood.
For this reason it is crucial to keep children protected
from harmful UV rays.
Why
do children need special protection?
On average, children get three times more exposure to the
sun's UV rays than adults. Plus, it can take less than 10
minutes for a child's skin to burn.
What
is SPF?
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. Sunscreens generally
have SPF numbers ranging from 2 to 45. The SPF indicates
how many times longer a person can stay in the sun before
beginning to burn when using a sunscreen compared to using
no sunscreen.
What
is UV?
UV stands for ultraviolet. Overexposure to the sun's UV
radiation can cause painful sunburn. In can also lead to
other serious health problems, including melanoma, a life-threatening
form ok skin cancer. The National Weather Service has developed
a UV index based on monitoring the sun's position, cloud
movements, altitude. Ozone data, and other factors. An index
of zero indicates a low risk of overexposure or sunburn.
An index of ten or more means a very high risk of overexposure
or sunburn. The UV index is printed in the weather section
of most daily newspapers.
Do
infants need special protection from the sun?
Yes. Infant skin does not sweat effectively. This means
exposure to the sun may increase their risk of heatstroke.
Their skin also has less melanin than older children which
means they burn more quickly.
Because infants are unable to move themselves out of uncomfortable
light and heat, they should be placed in shaded areas whenever
outdoors. Use this checklist when dressing infants:
---loose-fitting, lightweight long pants with a tight weave
---loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts with a tight weave
---brimmed hats
---sunglasses
Can
I use sunscreen on my infant?
It was once believed that infants under the age of six months
should not use sunscreen. However, in 1999, the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) revised its policy statement
on the use of sunscreens for infants under six months of
age. As stated in the AAP policy, "it may now be appropriate
to use sunscreen, applied to small areas of the skin such
as the face and the back of the hands, on infants younger
than six months when adequate clothing and shade are not
available." Consult your doctor.
Do
certain activities require special protection?
All outdoor activities require protection from UV rays.
Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, wide-brim hats, sunglasses
and sunscreen provide good protection. Many athletic activities
take place on or near concrete, sand, water, or snow. These
surfaces reflect up to 85 percent of the sun's UV rays.
Although wearing a wide-brim hat or sitting under an umbrella
helps avoid direct sunlight, it will not protect against
UV rays reflected off concrete, sand, water or snow. Under
these circumstances sunscreen should be applied to all uncovered
areas.
The sun's intensity is highest from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00
p.m. each day. If possible, avoid or minimize sun exposure
during these times. Cloudy days are no exception. Although
it may appear otherwise 80 percent of the sun's harmful
rays can penetrate light clouds, mist and fog.
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