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Teaching Your Kids about Safety in the Sun
It can be hard to get adults to worry about sun damage and protecting the skin while outdoors. If you start a child with good habits while they are young, however, they can learn things that will become second nature to them, and that will last a lifetime. Skin cancer is preventable in many cases, but it remains a common cause of death. Australia already practices good promotion of sun skin care due to ozone problems, and Americans would be smart to follow in their footsteps.
Children should be taught from a very young age that even though the sun tends to feel really good on the skin, it can be very dangerous. Lying out in the sun can produce a great looking tan, but it can also promote damage to the skin. This damage leads to dried out and leathery looking skin later in life, and in some cases, the painful reality of skin cancer. Tans look nice, but they are never worth it. If you, as a parent, are still lying out for a tan, stop immediately for the sake of your children. They will learn by watching whatever you do.
Lesson number one for children should be about how and when to apply sunscreen, and what type they should use. Generally, a high SPF is a good idea, but don't let that fool anyone into thinking they can apply once for the entire day. It should be applied every few hours to all exposed skin, and more frequently when a child or adult is going in and out of the water or sweating.
Even more important than learning to use sunscreen is learning to use it correctly. The biggest problems come from application. Most do not use enough, or they miss spots on their body. It must be applied evenly and completely. Lotions are often easy to apply all over, but the newer sprays are harder to gauge. If using a spray, remember to apply until the lotion is visible on the skin. A quick spray all over the body is rarely enough.
Another important thing that should be practiced is head protection. Hats are something that everyone should be wearing while in the sun, and the bigger the better. A wide brimmed hat is a good idea, as it protects the top of the head and also the delicate skin of the face. Long sleeves are a good idea if it is not too hot. If the sleeves aren't a good idea, remember the sun screen on exposed skin. A good pair of sunglasses that block UV rays are also essential.
When talking to children about sun safety and showing them what to do, you should also talk to your child's school about what they can do to help. Children let outside for mid-day recess are at risk for sun damage as well. Children should be allowed to take sun screen with them so they can apply before they go outside. If your school does not have a policy about sun screen and sun safety, perhaps it is time they adopted one.
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