With the school summer holidays almost upon us, parents will be busy booking their young ones into summer activity camps, from cricket, tennis, football to mountaineering, the choice is now expansive, helping them find the time to work, as the long weeks stretch out.
Whilst getting children playing outdoors all day is healthy, it is worth sparing a thought on the issue of sun protection. How do you know that your child will be using their hats and reapplying sunscreen whilst out of your care, and how can you ensure they do not return home with sunburn?
With skin cancer rates rising rapidly, and childhood sunburn attributed to doubling the incidence of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, in adulthood, this is a topic we all need to take seriously.
The good news, is that help is at hand!
All4KidsUK now supports the Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code, an initiative designed to support all those who work outdoors with children, helping ensure that their provision of sun protection is up-to-date and 100% effective.
Campaign partners, the Youth Sport Trust, Association for Physical Education (AfPE), Child Protection in Sport Unit (NSPCC) and UK Coaching have worked with the Melanoma Fund, the charity behind the campaign, to ensure the advice is relevant to sport and outdoor activity.
Over 100 national governing bodies of sport and major outdoor organisations actively support the campaign, proving the UK is finally taking this vital form of safeguarding to heart. The resource offers professional guidelines, template policies, downloadable materials and an accreditation scheme to keep action consistent throughout summer. It encourages all outdoor activity leaders to follow these five rules:
- 1. PREPARE: Ensure that everyone arrives ready for a day in the sun
- 2. PROTECT: With clothing, hats/sunglasses and sunscreen (SPF30+) reapplied at breaks
- 3. SHADE: Avoid direct sunlight during lunch or whilst spectating others
- 4. HYDRATE: Ensure water is always available
- 5. LEAD BY EXAMPLE: Inspire children with your own actions
Julia Newton-Bishop, Professor of Dermatology at the University of Leeds says; “Children’s skin is more sensitive than adults and DNA damage can be caused by repeated overexposure to UV light. Although sun exposure is important for health – it is how we make vitamin D – sunburn increases our risk of skin cancer so ensure they’re protected, especially when out for prolonged periods, and educated on the risks by adults who lead by example.”
If you are a parent, please ensure your child’s activity provider is signed up to the Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code, and if you are an organisation or individual that works outdoors with children, sign up today at www.oksunsafetycode.com. Together we can blow the whistle on sunburn!