Parents across North Somerset are being warned about the
dangers of inadequate sun protection in clothing and textiles such
as sun hats, baseball caps, sunshades and parasols.
North Somerset Council's trading standards team is issuing a sun
protection advice leaflet for parents of Year 1 pupils to coincide
with Child Safety Week (June 19 - 25).
Sun protection clothing and textiles are being targeted
following results which highlighted that child related sun
protection textiles may not give the protection they state.
Although the items chosen, such as sun hats, would be expected to
provide protection to a child or baby from harmful ultraviolet (UV)
rays, some of the results make worrying reading.
Trading Standards in the South West tested a variety of clothing
and textiles, such as sun hats, baseball caps, sunshades and
parasols but found that, although European Standards state that the
sun protection factor (SPF) should be higher than 40, some products
provided less than factor 10 protection.
Whilst some items tested came up to the recommended standard,
others were so poor that a generous application of sun protection
lotion would be essential to provide an adequate barrier to UV
rays.
One sun parasol, designed to be clamped to a pushchair or pram,
was found to offer just factor 4 protection.
Cllr Deborah Yamanaka, North Somerset Council's executive member
for environment and community, said "This is a worrying result.
This effectively means that a baby or child is exposed to a
significant level of UV rays and would be in danger of sun burn
after a relatively short time. The products provide parents and
carers with a false sense of security. We advise consumers to
look for items that have the sun logo. It will be marked on items
which claim to meet the standard, where the lowest UV protection
factor is 40 and the average UVA transmission is less than 5%.
"Children and babies are particularly vulnerable, which is why
we’re sending the leaflet to our schools. The 5 and 6 year
olds are likely to have younger siblings and their parents may well
be unaware of the importance of applying sunscreen as well as a
cover up hat or T shirt."
Health experts advise using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least
15 - with frequent re-application - and not solely relying on
a ‘cover up’, sun parasol or sun shade.