7 Tips To Keep Kids Safe in the Sun

You make sure they eat right and see to it they wear their bike helmets. You teach them to watch when they cross the street and stay away from strangers. But the sun can do a lot of harm if your children aren’t protected. Follow these guidelines to keep them safe from skin cancer later in life.

1. Avoid sunburns — they can increase the risk of skin cancer later.
2. Generously apply a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen every time your child goes outdoors.
3. Reapply sunscreen regularly every two hours or after they go swimming.
4. Put hats on infants to shade face, neck, scalp and ears and apply SPF 30+ on exposed skin.
5. Make sure your children wear UV-blocking sunglasses to help protect eyes and prevent cataracts later in life.
6. Dress them in long-sleeve shirts and long pants or T-shirts and long shorts.
7. Have them play in the shade or under an umbrella when the sun’s rays are strongest (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m).