ATCAA Early Head Start/Head Start/State Preschool/General Child Care

PREVENTION OF SUNBURN

Sunburn definition

Stage 1:Reddening of skin varying from slightly red to fiery red , mild to severe tenderness of reddened area

Stage 11:Severe redness of skin with blister formation, severe tenderness with heat emanating from burned areas

Stage 111:Severe blistering and redness to a white appearance due to deep skin destruction, less tenderness as deeper destruction occurs

Sunburn Prevention

A. Infants under six months:

  • Keep child out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
  • Cover infant with loose clothing and a wide-brimmed hat
  • Place infant under an umbrella or other shelter and protect from reflected sunrays from sand, water, etc.
  • Provide plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration.
  1. Infants and Children over 6 months:
  • Avoid prolonged sun exposure from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM as this is when sunrays are most intense.
  • Wash hands and apply sunscreen. Lotion or milky-like gels with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or greater provide the best protection.
  • Avoid alcohol based sunscreens and those containing PABA as they may cause skin reactions and burning sensations.
  • Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes prior to outdoor activities.
  • Apply sunscreen generously over exposed skin surfaces paying special attention to areas that are more sensitive such as the nose, cheeks, ears, shoulders/upper arms and thighs. Avoid areas immediately around the eyes and fingers.
  • For water play, use waterproof sunscreen and reapply every 1-2 hours, or more often if the child spends most of the time in the water.

Resort to “under 6 month” strategies for those children who are particularly sensitive to sunlight due to their complexion or if they are on a medication which increases the likelihood of burning.

If a child develops a rash or other reaction to sunscreen, immediately wash the sunscreen from skin with gentle soap and warm water and dry skin surfaces. If welts or hives appear, or if the child has difficulty breathing, contact the child’s health care provider or make a call to 911 if child’s condition warrants such action.

First Aid Treatment for Sunburn

  • If the skin is red and the child is uncomfortable, immerse the burned area in cool water (not icy), or frequently apply cool clothes to the burned area for 15 minutes.
  • Provide plenty of fluids as tolerated.
  • If the skin is blistered, call the child’s health care provider who may prescribe a medicated cream to speed healing and prevent infection.

There is evidence that protection from sunburn may decrease the risk of skin cancer later in life, and the use of “100% UV Filtration” sunglasses may decrease cataract formation. Wide brimmed hats may be the most practical solution to protect young children from sunburn.

Revised 4/5/13