Introduction
Young children need special care when they are in the sun. They love playing outdoors, but are not aware of how the sun can damage their skin. So, as adults, it is important that we take precautions for them.
Getting sunburnt as a child leads to greater risk of skin cancer in later life, but the good news is that sun damage can be avoided. Experts believe that four out of every five cases of skin cancer are preventable.
It is important that children, especially young children, are given the protection they deserve.
Aims
- To protect children while they are in our care
- To help parents understand the need to protect their children
- To work in partnership with parents to protect their children
- To help children understand the importance of keeping themselves safe in the sun
Staff will:
- Educate themselves about the risks of sunburn.
- Provide protective care when children to be in the sun, especially over the summer months and whilst on outings.
- Take particular care when the children are outside during the hottest part of the day, between 11am and 3pm. During this period the staff will encourage the children to:-
- Wear Hats
- Wear clothing that covers the shoulders and arms
- Only be outside for short periods of time
- Wear appropriate sun screen
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Provide shaded areas in playgrounds, pop up UV tents for the children will be available during outdoor play.
- Inform parents about the Clubs policy and will be encouraged to keep their children safe in the sun.
- Provide informal information to parents and children.
- Explain the need to keep safe in the sun to the children at the beginning of the sunny weather.
- Will encourage children to remember the importance of keeping safe throughout the summer.
- Display safe sun posters.
- Hand out information leaflets.
- Will check the consent form before applying sunscreen, if no consent form has been completed then the parents will be contacted to ask for instructions.
- Sunscreen will be applied after school and regularly during full days and outings.
Parents will:
- Complete and sign consent forms for all children indicating their preference on the use of sun tan lotion.
- If the sunscreen provided by the Club is not satisfactory to the childs needs, parents must provide sunscreen which is clearly labelled and provide instructions.
- Provide appropriate clothing, eye protection and head wear.