SUN SMART POLICY

Rationale

A healthy balance of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure is important for health.

Too much UV from the sun can cause sunburn, skin damage, eye damage and skin cancer. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Over exposure to UV during childhood and adolescence is known to be a major cause of skin cancer.

Sun Protection is needed whenever UV levels reach three and above. In Victoria average UV levels are three and above from the beginning of September to the end of April. During these months particular care should be taken during the middle of the day between 10am – 3pm when UV levels reach their peak.

Extreme heat conditions are rare, but the City of Greater Geelong will follow the Department of Education heat policy. Children will be kept inside where temperatures exceed 37 degrees, and programs with no air conditioning, i.e. North Shore will close at 2pm on days where temperatures exceed 40 degrees. If air conditioned venues can be accessed i.e. the local library, arrangements will be made to care for children in the air conditioned venue until such time as parents can collect. As extreme weather conditions are unusual and rare, parents may need to make arrangements to collect children at earlier closing times. Refunds or fee waivers are not issued in these extreme instances. Children may be able to attend a program where the venue has air conditioning if places are available and transport can be arranged.

Objectives

The goals of the Sun Smart Policy are to:

  • Ensure that all children and staff maintain a healthy UV exposure balance.
  • Encourage the use of a combination of sun protection measures whenever UV index levels reach 3 and above
  • Encourage safe UV exposure whenever UV Index levels are below 3.
  • Work towards a safe environment that provides shade for children and staff at appropriate times.
  • Assist children to be responsible for their own sun protection.
  • Ensure that families and new staff are informed of the service’s Sun Smart Policy.

From September to April in Victoria -

  • Children and staff use a combination of sun protection measures whenever UV Index levels reach 3 and above.
  • Our Sun Smart policy is considered when planning all outdoor events e.g. excursions, outside play.
  • Where possible, we have outdoor activities or events earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon, or we try using indoor venues.

1. Shade

  • The availability of shade is considered when planning excursions and all outdoor activities.
  • Children are encouraged to use available areas of shade when outside.
  • Children who do not have appropriate hats or outdoor clothing shall not be allowed to attend the service. (Parents shall be called to collect their children or take their children home on signing in to collect their hat / put on appropriate clothing.

2. Clothing

  • Children are required to wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible. This includes shirts with collars and longer sleeves, longer style dresses and shorts and rash vests or t-shirts.

SINGLET TOPS, SHOE STRING TOP DRESSES DO NOT OFFER ENOUGH PROTECTION ANDARE THEREFORE NOT ALLOWED TO BE WORN AT THE SERVICE.

3. Hats

  • Children and staff are required to wear hats that protect their face, neck and ears,

e.g. legionnaire, broad brimmed or bucket hats, whenever they are outside.

BASEBALL CAPS DO NOT OFFER ENOUGH PROTECTION ANDARE THEREFORE NOT SUGGESTED TO BE WORN AT THE SERVICE. Baseball caps are a last resort if no other hat is available.

4. Sunglasses

  • Children and staff are encouraged to wear close fitting, wrap around sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard 1067 (Sunglasses: Category 2,3 or 4) and cover as much of the eye area as possible.

5. Sunscreen

  • SPF 30+ broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen is available for staff and children to use.

Sunscreen is applied at least 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapplied every two hours if outdoors.

  • children are reminded to apply sunscreen before going outdoors.

References:

ACECQA National Quality Framework Resource Kit (2012)

– Quality Area 1 – Educational Program and Practice.

- Quality Area 2 – Children’s health and safety

Education and Care Services National Regulations (2012), Section 168 2a(ii)– Sun protection

Sunsmart –

Date of last review: October 2016

To be reviewed: October 2017