Summer Sun Risky Fun for Kids

Don’t take risks – keep kids safe in the sun with UPF clothing and sunscreen

FALLS CHURCH, VA – (August 9, 2012) – Connecting with friends, free from homework, swimming, biking, hiking all make for a footloose and fancy free summer for kids everywhere, but those long days of playing outside can lead to overexposure to UV rays.  Research has shown that special clothing and sun screen protects against these harmful rays.

Children have an elevated need for UPF-rated clothing.  All fabrics disrupt UV radiation to some degree, but clothing that carries an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) value does the best job.  UPF ratings range from 15 (good) to 50+ (excellent). Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) is a rating system used for apparel. It indicates how effectively fabrics shield skin from ultraviolet (UV) rays. The higher the UPF number, the greater degree of UV protection a garment offers.

“I highly recommend using UPF clothing to protect children from the sun when appropriate. Anytime you can avoid applying something to the skin it’s always preferable” stated Robert Silverman, MD, Pediatric Dermatologist. However, if UPF clothing is not an option, Dr. Silverman recommends using sunscreen with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30.  “SPF 30 protects 95% of our skin from ultraviolet light.”  Sunlight includes rays of invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and overexposure to UV rays can lead to sunburn, accelerated skin aging and skin cancer. Sunscreen and UPF clothing offer the main forms of significant UV protection.

Keep kids safe in the sun during these hot summer days by using these summer guidelines:

• Use UPF clothing when appropriate
• When using Sunscreen
• Apply enough SPF 30 sunscreen
• Rub into the skin until it is absorbed
• Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before letting children out to play or swim.

For more information on summer safety tips visit www.inova.org/healthykidspodcasts

Contact: Rita Wakefield, 703-664-7109, Rita Wakefield@Inova.org

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About Inova
Inova is a not-for-profit health care system located in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, serving over two million people with over 1,700 licensed beds based in Northern Virginia.  Inova consists of five hospitals including the area’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care unit.  Inova encompasses many health services including the nationally and internationally recognized Inova Heart and Vascular Institute (IHVI), Inova Translational Medicine Institute (ITMI) on genomics, Inova Neuroscience Institute and Inova Children’s Hospital.  Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research.  More information and statistics about Inova is at www.inova.org.