First Aid Facts - Sun Safety

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With the warmer weather already here; Cornwall Resus- pediatric first aid trainers are on hand to offer advice on sun safety for little ones.Tips to keep your child safe in the sun…

  • Babies and children need to have their skin protected between March and October in the UK.
  • Encourage your child to play in the shade – for example, under trees – especially between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest.
  • Keep babies under the age of six months out of direct sunlight, especially around midday.
  • Cover exposed parts of your child's skin with sunscreen, even on cloudy or overcast days. Use one that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above and is effective against UVA and UVB. Don't forget to apply it to their shoulders, nose, ears, cheeks, and the tops of their feet. Reapply often throughout the day.
  • Be especially careful to protect your child's shoulders and the back of their neck when they're playing, as these are the most common areas for sunburn.
  • Cover your child up in loose cotton clothes, such as an oversized T-shirt with sleeves.
  • Get your child to wear a floppy hat with a wide brim that shades their face and neck.
  • Protect your child's eyes with sunglasses that meet the British Standard (BSEN 1836:2005) and carry the "CE" mark – check the label.
  • If your child is swimming, use a waterproof sunblock of factor 15 or above. Reapply after toweling.

SunburnYou should see your GP if a young child or baby has sunburn, as their skin is particularly fragile.Signs of severe sunburn can include:

  • blistering or swelling of the skin (oedema)
  • chills
  • a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above, or 37.5C (99.5F) or above in children under fivedizziness, headaches and feeling sick (symptoms of heat exhaustion)

Sunlight and vitamin DThe best source of vitamin D is summer sunlight on our skin. Because it's important to keep your child's skin safe in the sun, it's recommended all babies and young children aged six months to five years should take a daily supplement containing vitamin D, in the form of vitamin drops.

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