52913 DHS safety flip chart 6/1/05 4:27 PM Page 95

Children’s and adult’s skin can be permanently damaged by the sun’s rays. Between
50-80% of a person’s lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18 years. Both
sunburn and skin cancers can be the result of sun exposure. Even on days when the
temperature seems to be only pleasantly warm, and on cloudy days or hazy days skin
should be protected from the sun.

❏ Limit the Amount of Time Children and Adults Spend in the Sun
➔ Avoid outdoor play between 10 AM and 3 PM when the sun is the most
intense;

➔ Provide lots of shade for children to play under. Trees, canopies, or

ramadas or even other buildings can provide shade. Be aware that
water, snow, sand and cement reflect the sun’s rays and sunburns can
occur;

➔ Safe sun exposure time is directly related to time of day, and time of
year. The Weather Section of your newspaper may include a daily sun
exposure guide;

❏ Suggest Appropriate Clothing

➔ For summer, recommend light-colored, loose-fitting, lightweight cotton
clothing;

➔ Wide-brimmed hats will help to protect faces from the sun’s rays;

❏ Use Sunscreen/Sunblock Creams and Lotions

➔ Apply an SPF 15 (or higher number) sunscreen about 20 minutes before
going outdoors. Reapply after water play. Sunblocks like zinc oxide pro-
vide good protection to small areas like ears and noses which burn eas-
ily;

➔ Group programs will need to ask parents to provide a bottle of SPF 15

(or higher numbered) sunscreen lotion or cream, labeled with their
child’s name. Parents will also need to complete the program’s medica-
tion form. Store sunscreen out of the reach of children;

❏ Sun glasses
➔ Sun glasses can protect both children’s and adult’s eyes. Toy sun glass-
es, however, can be harmful to children’s eyes. Children’s glasses
should be shatterproof. All sun glasses must block UV-A and UV-B rays.
Look for sun glasses labeled, “Meets ANSI Z80.3 General Purpose UV
requirements,” or “Meets ANSI Z80.3 Special Purpose requirements.”

Sun Safety

[I/P-25]
INTERVENTION/PREVENTION