Sun Safety at Camp

Summer's almost here, so sun safety should be on the minds of concerned parents everywhere especially if you'll be sending your child to camp.

Since one of the official definitions of an organized camp is that the majority of the activities must take place outdoors, you can expect your child to be spending lots of time in the sun each day.

You don't want to go overboard to the extent you interfere with your child's opportunities for fun, but the facts are impossible to ignore. We hear it on the news, from our friends and family, our doctors, from everyone and everywhere:

"The sun causes cancer."

"Stay out of the sun."

"Use sun protection."

"Use sunscreen even when you're just going outside as a normal part of your daily routine."

Of particular concern is that almost 25% of your child's lifetime sun exposure will occur before they turn 18. Since overexposure to the sun can lead to premature aging, skin cancer and a weakened immune system, it makes sense to protect your child as much as possible and educate them at a young age about the sun's potentially harmful effects.

Since you personally won't be able to supervise your son or daughter at camp - that's up to the camp counselors - you should confirm with the camp that sun safety is a significant part of its risk management plan, especially because sunburns are injuries which can be prevented.

Here are a few strategies to help ensure you child is "sun safe" at summer camp:

Before your child even arrives at camp, contact the camp director to let them know that sun protection is: 1) EXTREMELY important to you, and 2) your child may require extra reminders to apply and reapply sunscreen several times per day, every day, especially after swimming, sweating, towel-drying and extended sun exposure. (By the way, you should not hesitate to make these comments nor feel embarrassed about doing so in any way. Assuming you have chosen a reputable camp with informed and sensitive camp directors, then you can expect them to be very agreeable to - and even appreciative of - your suggestions and concerns.)