We have seen the temperatures rise this year with extreme heatwave conditions which haven’t been great for us humans to go outside but there has been plenty of other times with beautiful sunshine that allows the children to spend more time outside. Being outside is a great time to promote physical and mental well-being, but there are also risks associated with spending too much time outside in the sun.
- Too much time in the sun can overheat children, especially those who run around a lot and like to be active – this can cause heat exhaustion or sunstroke.
- Children can get sunburnt from harmful UV rays – this can be painful in the short term but can be linked to skin cancer in later years.
So, how can you protect children in your school from the sun, while still allowing them to play outside? Let’s take a look below and see how Protect Canopies look at the different options for keeping children safe from the sun and we really hope this helps.
A School Canopy
A school canopy is an ideal solution, it extends from the main building and is somewhere where the children can play or sit during the hottest part of the day. The lunch period is when the children spend the most time outside.
This canopy can be large or small, depending on your needs and will protect everyone from the heat and UV rays. It can even protect equipment and tools from UV damage.
Certain Clothing
We all know that short sleeves are worn in the summer months and for good reason to keep us cool, however, the children should still be encouraged to cover their arms during the middle of the day and to wear a cap to protect them. Caps are ideal for children as they help keep the head cooler and prevent overheating, which causes heatstroke.
Sunglasses can also be encouraged to keep the children’s eyes safe.
Applying Suncream
Get the children to apply suncream when coming into school. This should provide them with some cover for their time at school or at least some of the time.
Drinking Plenty of Water
We have to make sure we drink plenty of water during the hot weather and this is particularly important for children. Some children may need to be encouraged to drink more water, so it’s a good idea to encourage a drink before and after going outside. It doesn’t matter how big the drink is, even a small drink can help children stay cool during these hot months.
At Protect Canopies, we offer a bespoke canopy design service. Our team of designers, with over 25 years of design experience, can design canopies to specific sizes, shapes and configurations to suit your exact requirements, in any colour to suit any situation. All of our canopies are on fixed-price contracts, with no surprise extra costs giving you complete peace of mind. Our knowledgeable team will work with you to create the perfect structure. As part of our service, we offer a free site visit and free CAD so you’ll be able to see exactly what you are buying before committing. Our customer service is often referred to in our 5-star Google ratings as it’s an integral part of who we are and what we offer.
