Everyone loves lying in the sun in the summer, but it is essential to protect ourselves as well. Why? Because the sun is a star that it is made up of atoms that collide with each other, which causes the sun to release a lot of heat and to release it in the form of radiation, or energy.
What is radiation?
Electromagnetic radiation is the sun’s energy that travels through space at the speed of light (incredibly fast) in the form of waves or rays. And depending on the extent of sun exposure, there are different types of rays.
There are two types of sun rays important for planet earth, the so-called visible light, which we can see illuminate our earth, and ultraviolent rays.
Why do we need the sun?
Because not only does it keep us warm, plants use the energy to make their own food and in the process release oxygen which human beings need to survive. The sun aids skin in producing Vitamin D which helps the formation of our bones, reduce cholesterol, and improve blood circulation.
Although we have so many benefits from the sun, ultraviolet rays can also be harmful. If we expose ourselves too much to this radiation, it can cause serious damage to your skin and eyes. For this reason, we must protect ourselves properly from the sun to avoid overexposure and sunburns.
7 Ways to ensure children can safely enjoy the sun and playing outside
- Do not expose newborns directly to the sun during their first year of age. Also sand, water, and grass reflect solar radiation between 5-20%
- Avoid sun exposure at peak hours of the day. Like adults, children shouldn’t be exposed to the sun between noon and 5pm since solar radiation is more dangerous during this time.
- When spending time outside, set up in the shade. Shelter yourselves under natural shadows, such as a tree, or artificial shadows, such as an umbrella.
- Protect your kids with a hat, sunglasses, and appropriate clothing. Clothes under the sun should be loose, preferably cotton for breathability, and always dry, as wet clothes let more solar radiation pass through to the skin.
- Use a specific sunscreen for children. Constant games inside and outside the water make a sunscreen resistant to water, sweat and friction necessary. It must be applied every 2 hours and after each dip in the water.
- Hydrate them correctly. Drink plenty of water to avoid getting dehydrated by the heat of the sun.
- Awareness of your children in terms of sun protection and providing them with the necessary information about the sun. Also, be an example. Expose yourself to the sun in a responsible way.
3 Mistakes to Avoid
- Putting sunscreen on a newborn, skin’s barrier function is immature so sunscreen or other components could be absorbed.
- Relying on a shirt to protect from the sun, a normal cotton shirt (12 SPF) protects less than sunscreen (minimum of 15 SPF). And if the shirt gets wet, the protection drops to 8 SPF.
- Using umbrellas to avoid the sun and reflection of the sun during peak hours, during these hours a child will cook under even umbrellas. The best option is to not go outside during this time.
Remember to not let your guard down after summer, because solar radiation is dangerous all year round.
At Nutty Scientists, we have workshops on solar protection, raising awareness in a fun way about the influence of the sun on the existence of life on earth as well as the dangers of solar radiation.
