Sun Safety for Kids

Now that school is out and summer is in full swing, the Camden County Health Department reminds parents to protect their children from the damaging effects of the sun.

“Research shows a link between sunburns in children and an increased risk of melanoma and skin cancer later in life,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Department of Health & Human Services. “We want parents to know what steps they can and should be taking now to possibly prevent problems later on.”

While the county’s new “Get Screened, Stay Healthy, Stay Alive” cancer education and prevention program includes a plan to integrate sun-safety information into the curriculum at all county school districts, Rodriguez said, the health department offers parents these guidelines to help protect their children while playing in the sun this summer:

• Cover up with clothing. Choose hats that shade your child’s face, neck and ears (wide-brim hats are best), and clothing made of tightly woven fabrics that you can’t see through when held up to light. Encourage t-shirts instead of tank tops.

• Apply sunscreen on skin not protected by clothing. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen, one that blocks both Ultraviolet A and B rays (UV-A and UV-B) with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15. Apply sunscreen liberally 20 minutes before outdoor activity and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.

• Require sunglasses. Choose sunglasses with 99- to 100-percent UV-A and UV-B protection in a wrap-around style that protects the tender skin around the eyes.

• Remember, UV rays reflect off water and sand, and also reach below water’s surface. Continuous reapplication of sunscreen on exposed skin is important even when children are passively playing on the beach or in the pool all day.

For more information on protecting your children from the damaging effects of the sun or on the “Get Screened, Stay Healthy, Stay Alive” cancer education/prevention program, call the Camden County Health Department at (856) 401-6444.

Article continues below

---

advertisement

---

Author: Press Release-Camden County