Stay safe in the sun

We are currently seeing a high number of adults and children coming to us with sunburn.

Please remember to protect yourself, your families and children during this heatwave with the following advice…

• Use a sunscreen that is at least factor 30 and has a four- or five-star UVB rating.
• Sunscreen should be applied to areas not protected by clothing, such as the face, ears, feet and backs of hands before going out in the sun.
• Take care on cloudy days too, as sun exposure will still occur.
• Be careful of barbeques – keep small children away from where food is being cooked, and also afterwards whilst it cools down
• The very young, the elderly and the seriously ill are the groups who are at risk of health problems when the weather is very hot. Find out more at The Met office – Heat Health

Sun safety advice for parents

• Encourage children to play in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest
• Keep babies under six months out of direct sunlight
• Children should wear a wide brimmed floppy hat to shade their face and neck
• Use loose cotton clothes, such as a long sleeved oversized T-shirt to protect their skin. Protect their shoulders and the back of their neck when they are playing, as these are the most common areas for sunburn
• Protect children’s eyes with sunglasses that meet the British Standards and carry the “CE” mark
• Sunscreen is not an alternative to covering up with suitable clothing and seeking shade, but it does offer additional protection. NICE
• Cover exposed parts of children’s skin with sunscreen, even on cloudy days. Use one that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and is effective against UVA and UVB and reapply throughout the day, especially if they have been in water
•  During hot weather babies and children may need extra fluids to avoid becoming dehydrated so watch for that too.

What happens if someone gets burnt?

Remember the cool, call, cover message:

Cool the burn with running cold tap water for 20 minutes and remove all clothing and jewellery (unless it is melted or firmly stuck to the wound).

Call for help for any burn larger than a 50p coin: 999, 111 or local GP for advice.

Cover with cling film while transferring to a hospital/GP surgery. The hospital/GP should apply a sterile dressing. Cling film should not be left on a burn for more than a few hours and only until wounds are assessed by health professionals.

More information about staying safe in the sun can be found on the NHS Choices website.