Healthy Kids • YMCA Camps and Outdoor Education
Staying Safe in the Hot Summer Sun
15 June 2016 - by Elizabeth Burrows
At the YMCA we take safety seriously, and at Day Camps, a hugely important piece of the safety and wellbeing of our campers relates to protection from the sun.
Since our staff and campers are busy playing in the sun on hot summer days, we need to ensure we are educating and encouraging them to protect themselves from potentially harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. YMCA Day Camps has been partnering with the Canadian Cancer Society, through their SunSense initiative, since 2012 to help ensure that our campers and staff are given all the tools they need to stay safe in the sun.
Everyone in the camp community plays an important role in ensuring children are aware of what sun exposure can do, and how to prevent any possible damage while still enjoying all the benefits that come with it!
We start by educating our parents each week with tips and reminders though our Day Camp newsletters, and encourage all camp staff to do their part to encourage sun safety at camp. As part of this, every location chooses a staff person to take the lead as a “Sun Safety Champion” at camp. This role is to make sun safety a positive part of the fun and exciting day camp experience. Every camper has the chance to earn a special glow-in-the-dark sun safety bead for their YMCA Values bead bracelet. It is hugely important that campers are seeing positive role models who take sun safety seriously. For this reason all staff are required to wear hats while outside, and make sure throughout the day they are making time for their campers to reapply sunscreen and fill their water bottles.
Here are some tips to help you stay sun safe this summer, no matter where you are:
Since starting these initiatives in 2012 we have seen a significant reduction in sun burns and sun-related incidents at camp. Almost no burns have been reported at camp in the last two years!
Interested in learning more about YMCA Summer Day Camps? Visit our website and create your own personalized e-guide.
Since our staff and campers are busy playing in the sun on hot summer days, we need to ensure we are educating and encouraging them to protect themselves from potentially harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. YMCA Day Camps has been partnering with the Canadian Cancer Society, through their SunSense initiative, since 2012 to help ensure that our campers and staff are given all the tools they need to stay safe in the sun.
Everyone in the camp community plays an important role in ensuring children are aware of what sun exposure can do, and how to prevent any possible damage while still enjoying all the benefits that come with it!
We start by educating our parents each week with tips and reminders though our Day Camp newsletters, and encourage all camp staff to do their part to encourage sun safety at camp. As part of this, every location chooses a staff person to take the lead as a “Sun Safety Champion” at camp. This role is to make sun safety a positive part of the fun and exciting day camp experience. Every camper has the chance to earn a special glow-in-the-dark sun safety bead for their YMCA Values bead bracelet. It is hugely important that campers are seeing positive role models who take sun safety seriously. For this reason all staff are required to wear hats while outside, and make sure throughout the day they are making time for their campers to reapply sunscreen and fill their water bottles.
Here are some tips to help you stay sun safe this summer, no matter where you are:
- Wear a hat; the wider the brim the more protection it provides. Choose one that goes all around the head.
- Choose clothing that covers your skin as much as possible, while still allowing you to stay cool.
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes, and the skin around them.
- Wear sunscreen, and reapply throughout the day. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends using one with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.
- Stay in the shade. Did you know that the sun is at its strongest during the hours of 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM? Choose this time to enjoy activities in spaces protected by some shade.
- Hydrate! In addition to sun burn, lots of sun exposure can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. It is important to stay cool and drink lots of water to keep this from happening. Carry a water bottle with you wherever you are going, and continue to fill it up throughout the day.
- Take breaks when you need to. On hot days be sure not to overexert yourself and pay attention to the signals your body is giving you.
Since starting these initiatives in 2012 we have seen a significant reduction in sun burns and sun-related incidents at camp. Almost no burns have been reported at camp in the last two years!
Interested in learning more about YMCA Summer Day Camps? Visit our website and create your own personalized e-guide.
