Slip Slop Slap Wrap

Keep your kids safe in the sun this summer!

The weather has started to warm up and it feels that summer is here at last. Yay! However with it comes the need for us as parents to ensure our kids are safe in the sun.

In New Zealand kids are very lucky to be able to spend lots of time playing outside, in the swimming pool, at one of the many beaches or at the park. Unfortunately though, due to our location and clean air, the intensity of the UV radiation we receive from the sun is a lot higher than in most other countries.

With this exposure, comes the risk of sunburn which in turn is linked to melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Over 400 New Zealanders die from skin cancer every year, even though it’s largely preventable.

The simple message Slip Slop Slap Wrap is still as important as ever and something that we need to teach our kids too. 

• SLIP on a long-sleeved t-shirt and into some shade, especially between 10.00am and 4.00pm each day.
• SLOP on SPF30+ broad spectrum sunscreen before going outside. Don’t forget to reapply it after any physical activity, swimming and towel drying.
• SLAP on a wide-brimmed hat to keep the sun off your face and neck.
• WRAP on some sunglasses to protect your eyes. 

By adopting sun-protective behaviours during early childhood you can help to reduce the life-long risk of skin cancer.

To learn more about being SunSmart visit http://sunsmart.org.nz/

Article written by the team at Under 5s www.under5s.co.nz. Check out our other Health & Wellbeing articles too.