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Fun in the Sun — Sun Protection Strategies
Summer provides ample opportunities for children and youth to play in the fresh air and discover the great outdoors. There
- Get Involved
- Education & Events
- Publications & Research
- About ACA
Fun in the Sun — Sun Protection Strategies
Summer provides ample opportunities for children and youth to play in the fresh air and discover the great outdoors. There is much fun to be had in the sun, but it’s important to remember sun safety. The American Camp Association® (ACA) provides tips from Linda Ebner Erceg, R.N., M.S., P.H.N., executive director of the Association of Camp Nurses, to help families brush up on sun safety:
- Children should wear a sunscreen for minimum protection. Most experts recommend SPF 30, however some professionals do recommend using SPF with minimum coverage of 45.
- Provide your child with clothing options that protect from harmful rays:
- Wear a hat with at least a four-inch brim that circles the head or a flap that covers the neck.
- Use UV-rated sunglasses. Overexposure to UV rays may cause glaucoma.
- Remind your child to put sunscreen on his or her torso, too!
- Cloudy days are not exempt. Families should remember to wear sunscreen and take precautions even when the sun isn’t shining brightly.
- Learn to recognize the signs of melanoma by using this ABCD Watch:
- Asymmetry — if folded in half, the skin mark doesn't match or is unequal in shape.
- Border — the area has a scalloped or poorly circumscribed border.