Hospitals are seeing an increase in children admitted for severe sunburn

With the hot weather we've been having, it's more important than ever to keep your child safe in the sun.

Temple Street Children's Hospital has seen a major spike in the number of children being admitted for serious sunburn. The hospital has issued some important guidelines on how to keep young children and babies protected over the summer. They recommend to always keep babies under six months in the shade and make use of shade that is around you and use extra shade for prams and strollers as needed. Make sure babies are covered up in loose-fitting outfits with long sleeves and long shorts. Choose a sunscreen that is made for children and babies. Make sure to patch test it on their skin first. If their skin reacts to the product stop using it straight away, and try a different brand Offer the baby plenty of cool drinks Keep your living space as cool as possible – keep windows that are exposed to the sun closed during the day, and open windows at night when the temperature has dropped. Close curtains that receive morning or afternoon sun and turn off non-essential lights and electrical equipment – they generate heat For older children keep them out of the sun between 11 am and 3 pm. Keep their head and face protected with a hat. Make sure it has a wide brim that gives shade to the face, neck, head and ears. It is important that children, as soon as they can, wear wrap-around sunglasses that give UV protection. Use Sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and UVA protection. Put plenty of it on dry skin 20 minutes before they go outside and reapply every two hours As far as it is possible to, plan outdoor events so that children can be in the shade when UV rays are at their strongest from 11 am to 3 pm, especially if they are pale and prone to burning. Heat stroke and severe sunburn can be extremely dangerous to young children and babies so it's important to make sure they have the best protection possible during the summer months. Even on cooler days children can be burned so always keep some sunblock in your bag and choose a brand with a high factor and a high star rating.