Summer Safety

Summer Fun…Safely!

Warm, summer days are upon us and can be so wonderful for our children to spend time outdoors in the fresh air.  It’s also important to make sure they are enjoying their time outside safely!

Here are some simple tips to keep your family safe from too much exposure to the suns harmful UV rays.

·       Keep infants younger than the age of 6 months out of direct sunlight – Find shade under an umbrella, a stroller canopy, or tree.

·       For children over 6 months: Appy sunscreen all over, being careful around the eyes.

·       Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 (up to SPF 50). An SPF of 15 or 30 should be fine for most people.

·       Use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet, hands, and even backs of the knees. Rub it in well.

·       Put sunscreen on 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. It needs time to absorb into the skin.

·       Use sunscreen any time you or your child spend time outdoors. Remember that you can get sunburn even on cloudy days because up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays can get through the clouds.

What should I do if my child gets a sunburn?

·       For babies under one year call your pediatrician any time they are sunburned.

·       For children over the age of one year, call the doctor if there is fever, pain or blistering related to a sunburn.