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winter sun safety
Did you know you can get sunburn even in the winter time? Staying active in winter is impor tant to many people, but often the cold weather makes us forget that the sun still has the power to burn and damage our skin. Even during the winter months, you should wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 when enjoying time outside.
The glare of the sun from the snow can also be damaging. Wearing sunglasses is an easy way to protect your eyes from the powerful glare of the sun.
It is a common myth that you don’t need protection against the sun if you can’t see it. In fact, up to 80% of the sun’s rays can pass through fog, mist or clouds. It is important, therefore, to remain aware of the sun’s presence, even on the days where it is nowhere in sight, because it still has the power to cause skin damage.
Despite the strength of the sun in winter, it is important to remain active. You can enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities by simply taking the same precautions against the winter sun that you would normally take during a hot, summer day.
Parent Responsibility
Years of unprotected exposure to the sun causes skin cancer. Every time children go outside without proper protection, they increase their risk of developing skin cancer.
Teaching your children sun safety for all seasons is an important part of their growth and development. When children are young, they do not have the voice or the knowledge to protect themselves. As parents, we often think of protecting our children in other ways, but how often do we think of protecting our children from the sun? If we teach sun safety to children from their earliest years, they are more likely to continue protecting themselves into adulthood.
Winter Fun Ideas!
Here are some fun in the winter sun ideas for you and your family
- Go tobogganing.
- Go ice skating.
- Go snowmobiling.
- Build a snowman.
- Go skiing (downhill or cross-country).