As spring begins, summer draws ever closer and the number of hours of sunshine increases, this is a reason for many to rejoice after the gloomy winter months. In addition to the positive effect of the sun on the mind, the sun's rays are important for stimulating the body's own vitamin D production. Nevertheless, the sun should not be underestimated. Currently, more than ten times as many people in Germany suffer from skin cancer than 40 years ago. In children's thin skin, the body's own protective mechanisms against UV rays are not yet fully developed. Sunburns in childhood increase the risk of black skin cancer by two to three times. The skin forgets nothing and sunburn in childhood is a negligent bodily injury.
In addition to the skin, children's eyes are also particularly sensitive, as the lens of children is more permeable to UV radiation than that of adults, making it much easier for UV radiation to reach the retina. If the eyes are exposed to increasing UV radiation from an early age, the risk of clouding of the lens (cataracts) increases.
All kindergartens and daycare centers in the district will therefore receive an information package from the health department of the district office in the next few days containing various information on the subject of sun protection for children. This includes flyers for parents and nursery school teachers as well as two copies of the children's book "Mo und der Sonnenzauber", which aims to teach children how to deal with the sun in a playful way. In addition, the two hands-on projects for daycare centers "Clever in sun and shade" from the National Center for Tumor Diseases and "SunPass" from the Baden-Württemberg Cancer Association will be highlighted. The first four successfully participating daycare centers will also be rewarded with the planting of a native tree.
Sun protection for the whole family: important tips from the public health department
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes climate change as "the greatest threat to human health". Rising temperatures, heatwaves and the sharp increase in UV radiation exposure are among the effects of climate change that can have a serious impact on our health. This year's Health Department Day on March 19, which is proclaimed annually by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), is therefore themed "Climate change and health" at
. The health department is using this occasion to draw attention to the important issue of sun protection for children.
In order to effectively protect children from the sun, the health department recommends avoiding direct sunlight - especially between 11 am and 3 pm. Babies should never be exposed to the sun and the use of sunscreen is not recommended in the first year of life. For older children, however, sunscreen with UV-A and UV-B protection and a high sun protection factor (50+) is advisable. Adults should choose a sun protection factor that matches their skin type and carefully apply sunscreen to all uncovered areas of the body. The following applies: apply sun cream at least 30 minutes before going out in the sun and reapply every two hours and after bathing. It is important to know that reapplying sunscreen does not prolong UV protection, but merely maintains it. The protection time depends on the individual skin sensitivity and the UV radiation intensity - children's skin is particularly sensitive and only has a very short self-protection time of around ten minutes.
In addition to sunscreen, it is recommended to protect yourself from the sun by wearing long-sleeved clothing, a hat with protection for the neck, ears and face and closed shoes. The eyes also need protection: shatterproof sunglasses with the "UV 400" label, a suitable tint and sufficiently large lenses that reduce lateral UV radiation are particularly important here - for both children and adults.
