Be sure to protect your children from the harsh Australian sun.
Summer is almost here and families around Australia are getting ready for long, hot days and searing, scorching rays of the Australian sun. Australian schools and preschools require children to wear hats when playing outdoors. This protects young skin from the dangers of sun burn and exposure.
We all remember the ‘Slip!, Slop!, Slap!’ jingle from the very popular and successful Cancer Council of Australia campaign to raise awareness of skin protection. This issue is becoming increasingly important as children of all ages are encouraged to go outside for active play and fresh air. One of the most popular and recommended forms of skin protection is the hat – simple and effective.
However, parents and carers may not be aware of possible hazards associated with the design of certain hats. There is a need to be particular about hat choice for children which is dependent on their age, size and range of activities.
Kidsafe has been alerted to ‘near misses’ as a result of children’s hats becoming caught on playground equipment. For example, it was reported that one school-aged child had been playing on the monkey bars when she fell and her hat caught on a post. Fortunately, the cord on the hat eventually broke. However, if this had taken much longer her vocal cords may have been damaged.
The Australian Standards for Playground Equipment (AS4685:2004) describes a test method for toggle entrapment for inspectors to conduct. The types of play equipment to be tested include slides, fireman’s poles and also other items that move such as spinning and swinging items.
Kidsafe aims to educate the community about wise hat selection as it is important that parents are not deterred from placing hats on children. Therefore, Kidsafe offers some practical suggestions below to ensure that the hat goes on and stays on during play.
Bucket hats: Simply designed, readily available, and easy for younger children to put on themselves. Bucket hats do not have a strap under the chin so as to eliminate a potential hazard for this age group. Ensure that you find the right fit for your child’s head so that it doesn’t blow off in the wind or as the child is running around the playground.
Legionnaire’s hats: A basic cap design with a flap attached to cover the back of the neck. Loose, poorly fitted Legionnaire’s hats often slide down limiting the child’s vision, so it is important to ensure that this hat option is correctly fitted. Remember, children are still developing their peripheral vision up to nine years of age and they need all the assistance they can get to be able to negotiate their environments.
Wide brimmed hats with a safety release clip: A typical wide brim hat design, where the cords have been fitted with a safety release clip. In the case of a child’s hat being caught, the clip will release almost immediately under the child’s weight, leaving the hat behind as the child falls to the ground or closest surface. A good option for school-aged children to replace the typical school hat.
The Cancer Council of Australia makes recommendations for hats to ensure that correct coverage is achieved. It is important to take notice of their suggestions for skin protection. Visit their website for further information at www.cancer.org.au.
For further information regarding hat choice contact your local Kidsafe office.
