Creating a sun-safe camp

Camping Magazine, July-August, 1996 by Ann Landrey

Sun protection is an integral part of outdoor and wellness education. As much as 50 to 80 percent of lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18. Clearly, campers and staff are a vulnerable group when it comes to sun exposure; they attend camp during prime sun season, seeking the healthful benefits of outdoor recreation.

Ultraviolet light causes a host of health problems, some acute and some chronic, ranging from sunburn to cataracts, skin aging, and cancer. Avoiding these effects is not difficult. It just takes some time to plan the best strategy for your camp.

Camp directors and staff can implement simple risk management protocols to minimize sun exposure without compromising program goals.

Educate sun-loving campers

Campers are more likely to follow safe sun rules when they understand basic facts about the sun's effect on their skin:

* Every time you get a sunburn, your skin cooks; it's the same as touching a hot stove.

* Bad sunburns can cause shock. Because of damage from the sun's rays, your skin temporarily cannot help regulate your body temperature, causing chills and cold sweats.

* The peeling that sometimes occurs after a sunburn is the result of the skin's dying.

* Even if you don't burn, the sun can damage supporting skin structures, causing wrinkles and other signs of aging.

* Some researchers now think that every suntan damages the skin's DNA; although the body tries to repair the damage, it isn't always successful. This may be a cause of skin cancer.

Reduce exposure

Dermatologists recommend avoidance as the best way to reduce total exposure. At camp, that advice won't get much applause. What you can do is reschedule activities for a time when the sun is less intense. Peak exposure is between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thirty percent of the day's total exposure occurs during the hour before and after solar noon, generally 1 p.m. in the summer.

Do you customarily have a pre-lunch dip? How about a water fight in the shade instead? Many camps have quiet time after lunch. This is an ideal way to spare an hour or so of peak exposure.

Teach the shadow test to help gauge sun exposure: if your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun is strong. It's best to go outdoors when your shadow is longer than you are.

Seek and create shade

Conduct a shade audit of your site and facilities. Identify shade trees and incorporate shade making into your program. Be creative with tarps and polypropylene, or place patio umbrellas over the activity centers. Campers can participate in making simple shade structures. Good old-fashioned forts made of blankets and clothesline are excellent sun shelters.

Discuss the cooling effects and sun protection benefits of shade, and encourage campers to seek shade whenever they feel overheated or their skin feels like it's burning.

Cover up

Incorporate sun protection into your camp dress code.

Protective clothing

Clothing provides reliable, effective sun protection. Using fabric scraps, have your campers test various textiles for their sun-protective properties. If they can see through the material, the light can get through it. Denim is serious sun wear. Wearing denim is equivalent to wearing a sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 150.

Generally, closely-woven but loose-fitting clothing protects against the sun and won't overheat campers in the process.

Encourage longer shorts and ask parents to send T-shirts to wear in the water. Use the clothing list you send to parents and staff to explain how important clothing is to your camp's sun management strategy. Remind everyone that sun attire is outdoor equipment, just like proper shoes and a first aid kit.

Hats

Wearing a proper sun hat is also vital. Eighty percent of skin cancers occur on the head, face, and neck. A hat with a wide brim (approximately 2.5 to 3 inches) can reduce ultraviolet light to the head, neck, and eyes by up to 50 percent. Baseball caps help, but they don't protect the ears or the back of the neck. You don't have to banish those expensive logo caps. Purchase a supply of big bandannas from the bargain store to tie on under caps. You can dip the bandanas in water and wring them out for extra head-cooling power.

Insist on a "no hat, no play" policy, and make sure staff set a good example.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are available in a wide range of colorful, lightweight styles. For campers, ANSI Z80.3 general purpose sunglasses are adequate. Aquatic staff need special purpose lenses because of their intensely bright environment. Safety sunglasses are a wise investment when playing vigorous sports.

Use sunscreen

Make sure sunscreens are broad-spectrum (protect against UVA and UVB rays), waterproof, and SPF 15 or higher. Use sunscreen liberally, but wisely, as a complement to other sun protection measures. Do not use sunscreen to extend your time in the sun and remember that it is not an insurance policy.

Dermatologists suggest that campers and staff who fall into the high-risk categories of pale skin and light eye color treat their sunscreen SPF as half its rated value.