Sun safety
Sun safety is an increasingly important part of our lives. The ozone layer continues to be depleted , which means that we all are exposed to more harmful UV radiation {UVR}.The effects of exposure to UVR are well documented – too much sun in childhood is the primary cause of skin cancer in adulthood.
Not so long ago, we used to think that being out in the sun was healthy. We'd sit outside to "get some color", come back after the weekend or a vacation with a "healthy tan". Now we know how wrong we were. The fact is there is no such thing as a "healthy tan". A tan indicates damage to the skin, and cumulative tanning and burning increases the damage and increases the chance of skin cancer.

The Darker Side of the Sun - Some facts worth knowing:
-1 out of every 5 children born today will develop skin cancer in adulthood, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
-About 80 percent of a person's lifetime sun damage occurs before the age of 18.
-Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States each year; more than 1 million new cases are diagnosed.
- 4 out of 5 skin cancers are preventable if the skin is properly protected.
-Sun exposure is responsible for the development of at least two thirds of all melanomas {cancerous tumors on the skin}.

1 in 5 will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime
Skin cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells in the skin. It has been estimated by the AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) that 1 in 5 Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. Although skin cancer is rare in childhood, sun exposure in this period has been linked to an increased risk of developing skin cancer in the future. Therefore, preventing excess sun exposure in your children will decrease their risks of developing skin cancer in the future

The most critical tactic is prevention.
Since more than 80% of all sun damage occurs before the age of 18, the most effective time for this is during childhood. Unfortunately, children are not sovereign and cannot do this on their own. Unless the parent takes serious responsibility for sun safety, the child will enter adulthood with irreversible damage already done.

When is the sun dangerous?
Any unprotected exposure to the sun is dangerous. The most dangerous hours of the day are between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, so, whenever possible you should limit outside activities such as swimming or outside play to before and after those hours. Also, you should note that the damaging effects of the sun can be intensified by water.

How can I best protect my children from the sun, particularly at the beach or pool?
As much as possible, you should try to keep children in the shade. But we all know that's not always practical, so your best protection in the sun is to dress children in  sun protective swimwear that is rated UPF50+. You should also apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF15 or higher to exposed parts of the body.

What does UPF50+ mean?
UPF50+ is the highest rating granted by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency {ARPNSA).The world's leading authority on sun protection. It means the material has been subjected to stringent laboratory tests and has been proven to offer "excellent protection", blocking out more than 98% of all UV radiation.
All SunWay products are made from material that has received UPF50+ certification , and each individual garment comes with a certificate verifying that .
What wrong with covering up with regular clothing , such as a cotton shirt or pants?
While any material block out some UVR, different fabrics provides different amounts of sun protection. Most cotton or synthetic weaves provide only minimal protection. For example , a standard dry cotton t-shirt blocks only about 50% of  UVR . When wet , the protection can be reduced to as little as 25% . This means that if you decide to dress child in a t-shirt at the beach or pool , we should also apply sunscreen under the shirt .

When and where should I apply sunscreen?
The sunscreen should be liberally applied to dry skin 15-30 minutes before going out into the sun, in order to allow the protective chemicals to soak into the skin. It should be reapplied about every two hours and after strenuous physical activity or swimming.
When applying sunscreen generously coat any skin that is not covered by clothing.

7 steps to sun protection:
1. Limit time spent in the sun regardless of the day or season.
2. Use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher whenever you spend time outdoor.
3. Cover up with sun protective swimwear, hat and sunglasses.
4. Seek the shade.
5. Never seek a tan.
6. Stay away from tanning parlors and artificial tanning devices.
7. Protect your children and teach them sun safety from early age.

Teach your children to follow the "ABCs for FUN in the SUN.
A = AWAY. Stay away from the sun in the middle of the day.
B = BLOCK. Use SPF15 or higher sunscreen.
C = COVER UP. Wear a T-shirt and a hat.
S = SPEAK OUT. Talk to family and friends about sun protection.

Set sample to your children, protect yourself as well!
It is never too late to take action to protect yourself from the sun. Pick up an adult sun protective hat, sun protective swim shirt and sunscreen and model good sun protection habits for your children.

What else can be done?
SPEAK OUT for sun protection now. Do your part to protect others from sun damage. Show your family how to wear sun protective hats, swimwear and cloths, apply a sunscreen by spreading it evenly over your skin. Remember to keep babies out of the sun and use an umbrella over the stroller. Talk to the coach, camp counselor, scout leader, gym teacher and other leaders about the "ABCs for FUN in the SUN." Ask them to help you with the simple changes that can prevent sun damage. Start preventing sun damage in childhood now.

Think globally and act locally
Do your part to decrease pollution and therefore slow global warming and help stop ozone depletion.

http://www.aad.org/media/background/factsheets/fact_skincancer.html

http://childrensspecialists.com/body.cfm?id=1181

http://www.pamf.org/skincancer/

Source:
The American Academy of Pediatrics
Be Sun Safe!
The American Academy of Dermatology
Sun Protection Guide for Children
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Sun Protection Guide for Children
The Skin Cancer Foundation
Protect Your Children from the Sun
The American Cancer Society
All About Skin Cancer-Melanoma
Sun Protection and Plastic Surgery
UV Index