By Kerri Kreh Reda, M.P.H.
Warm weather is finally here which means many of us are spending more time outdoors and at the beach. Following are recommendations from the Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics for keeping your family safe in the sun this summer.
Sun Safety Tips for Infants from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Keep your baby in the shade as much as possible.
• Make sure your child wears clothing that covers and protects skin. If you hold the fabric against your hand and it’s so sheer that you can see through it, it probably doesn’t offer enough protection.
• Make sure your baby wears a hat that provides sufficient shade at all times.
• Watch your baby carefully to make sure he or she doesn’t show warning signs of sunburn or dehydration. These include fussiness, redness and excessive crying.
• Hydrate! Give your baby formula or breast milk if you’re out in the sun for more than a few minutes. Don’t forget to use a cooler to store the liquids.
• If your child is urinating less than usual, it may be a sign of dehydration, and that more fluids are needed.
• Avoid combination sunscreens containing insect repellants like DEET. Young children may lick their hands or put them in their mouths. According to the AAP, DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old.
• If you do notice your baby is becoming sunburned, get out of the sun right away and apply cold compresses to the affected areas.
Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
For babies under 6 months:
• Avoid sun exposure by dressing infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. However, when adequate clothing and shade are not available, a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant’s face can be applied.
For All Other Children:
• The best line of defense against harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that provide 97% -100% protection against both UVA and UVB rays), and clothing with a tight weave.
• Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours – between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• On both sunny and cloudy days use a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or greater that protects against UVA and UVB rays.
• Be sure to apply enough sunscreen — about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.
• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
• Use extra caution near water and sand (and even snow!) as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.
For more tips on sun and water safety, visit www.healthychildren.org
The Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Sunscreens
Kerri Kreh Reda, M.P.H., is a Human Development Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s Family Health and Wellness Program. She can be reached at kkr5@cornell.edu.