Don’t get Burnt! Summer Safety Tips
It's summertime here in Las Vegas and you want to head out with your family to soak up some sunshine. There are tons of fun outdoor activities to try to beat the heat, but before you go, let's talk about some things to consider:
First of all, protect those little feet! We have all made that mistake, walking out on a hot day, barefoot, thinking “it's only a few steps!” and quickly coming to realize, those few steps are across some blazing hot pavement. Data shows that ground temperature can be as much as 40-50 degrees hotter than ambient temperature. That means, when it is 90 degrees out, asphalt temperature can be as high as 140°! See below (and for my neighbors here in LV, please don't laugh that it “only” goes up to 95°):
- Air temp 85° -> concrete 105° -> asphalt 130°
- Air temp 90° -> concrete 125° -> asphalt 140°
- Air temp 95° -> concrete 145° -> asphalt 150°
Consider this: everyone’s favorite scientist Bill Nye the Science Guy did an experiment that showed that he could fry an egg at 130°. Yes, it took some time, but I certainly don't want to be able to compare my child’s foot to a popular breakfast food! Our childrens’ feet aren't as seasoned as ours and their skin lacks several protective mechanisms that develop as they age. This means any prolonged contact can lead to serious burns, from mild pain and redness to blistering and even as high as 3rd degree burns (now called full thickness burns). Lastly, don't be falsely reassured by being at the pool. The pool deck is HOT! Bottom line: don't forget your little ones’ shoes, even if its just a quick trip outside or to a splash pad!
Next, those UV rays are strong here in the desert. Children now have a 1:33 risk of developing skin cancer in their lifetime, compared to a 1:1500 risk for children born in the 1930’s. Increasing evidence shows that excessive exposure early in childhood leads to skin cancer later in life.
Many governmental health organizations and professional organizations promote “Comprehensive sun protection.” This includes avoiding peak sun exposure, wearing protective clothing, and using sunscreen. As noted above, children’s skin doesn’t have the same protective features as adult’s skin. The outermost layer hasn't fully developed, allowing more ultraviolet (UV) radiation in and making sunscreen less effective.
For infants under 6 months, recommendations are to first and foremost avoid UV radiation altogether given the ease of controlling exposure at this age (ie: put them in the shade!). Next, when exposure is inevitable, dress these babies in brimmed hats and UV-protective clothing. Unfortunately, prior to 6 months, baby’s skin is more permeable and sunscreen, which is supposed to stay ON the skin to protect it, is absorbed into the body and can be dangerous to the infant. While this is just a guess- there are no studies that prove this data in human babies- avoidance, big hats and UV-protective clothing should be mainstays at this age.
Next, for our older babies and children, sunscreen is a prime sun-protective resource most of us are familiar with. However, use of sunscreen has a huge drop off from the age of 9 to 15. Hard to imagine (#sarcasm). Unfortunately, there is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to sunscreen. Some people prefer lotions, others sprays. Some prefer clear, others like to see that white residue to know where sunscreen has already been applied. Others may simply have a reaction to specific components of one sunscreen and not another. It may take some trial and, unfortunately, error, to find out how best to protect your children from those harmful rays.
Bottom lines: try to keep babies under 6 months out of the sun as much as possible. After 6 months, find and use (every day) the sunscreen that works best for you and your family and start teaching your children about sun protection at a young age.
Have a great summer!
