Sun Safety Tips

Summer is fast approaching and the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital offers some tips on how to protect your child from sun damaging rays. It is part of a new patch program called Sun Safety, which will be offered to Girl Scout troops and at many of the Girl Scout summer day camps.

The Girl Scout Sun Safety patch program offers the following tips:

1. Encourage your children to play in the shade and avoid outdoor activities when the sun's rays are the strongest (10:00 am - 4:00pm).
2. Always wear sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply to the skin about 30 minutes before going outside to allow time to bond with your skin.
3. Reapply sunscreen frequently over all exposed skin, especially after swimming, perspiring, or drying off with a towel.
4. Wear a hat with a 4 inch brim to protect areas often exposed to the sun such as the neck, ears, eyes, nose and scalp.
5. Wear clothing to protect as much skin as possible and sun glasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation.
6. Medication like antibiotics can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun. Talk to your doctor about any medication your child takes and additional precautions they should take when outdoors.

      (Source: American Cancer Society)

The Sun Safety patch program educates girls about the unseen, but dangerous ultra-violet rays from the sun. At Girl Scout summer day camps, Teen Girl Scouts will teach younger girls about the causes and types of skin cancer, and how to protect themselves. Using special beads and nail polish, girls will make bracelets and manicures that once exposed to the sun's ultra-violet rays turn colors. According to Girl Scout Council Acting Executive Director, Lidia-Soto Harmon, "Our Girl Scout patch program is a visual reminder to the girls that the sun rays can harm you. When their nails or beads change colors, they should have on sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. We want girls to know that they must take appropriate precautions to prevent skin cancer." 

The program, sponsored by the Gendell Family Foundation, is designed to educate and help prevent the progression of skin cancer.  "We are proud to sponsor the Sun Safety patch that helps teach children at an early age about sun safety," said Marion Gendell, President of the Foundation.   "We know what it means to lose a family member to skin cancer, which can be prevented with education and simple safety measures.  We want girls to be advocates about sun safety to their peers and families."

The Sun Safety patch program will also be available for troops and girls can earn the Sun Safety patch that has special thread that when exposed to UVA rays turn colors.

Each year over one million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer; and melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, is the number one cancer killer of women ages 25-29.

Sun Safety Patch Program will be available to troop this fall. Teen Girl interested in attending training please click here.

Posted: Jun 3, 2010