It's estimated that over 50% of lifetime sunlight exposure occurs during childhood and two-thirds of all sun damage takes place before kids reach the age of 15.

Getting sunburnt as a child can seriously increase the risk of skin cancer later in life and other hot-weather hazzards such as dehydration can also spoil your child's fun.

A few simple precautions will allow your kids to play safely and stay healthy.

SUN SENSE

Children have especially delicate skin that is easily damaged by sunburn even in the UK. Babies under 6 months old should be kept out of the sun at all times whilst all children should stay in the shade between 11am-3pm when the sun's rays are at their strongest.

COVER UP

Dress your children in loose cotton clothing which will keep them cool as well as protect their skin from the sun. If they have been playing in water, ensure that you change wet clothes for dry ones as wet fabric can lose it's UV protection.

Choose hats with brims to protect their face and make sure the back of their necks and shoulders are covered.

Buy good quality sunglasses with wraparound sides. Look for a UV 400 label or glasses that give 100% UV protection as eyes can also be easily damaged by the sun.

WHICH SUNSCREEN?

Although sunscreen gives skin more protection against the sun's harmful rays you still need to monitor tha amount of time that your child spends in the sun.

Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 25 or more which is water resistant and offers 'broad spectrum' protection. This means that it will protect against both UVA and UVB rays.

Store sunscreen in a cool place and always check the 'use by date' as suncream products only have a shelf-life of around 2-3 years at the most and much less if they have been left lying around on a beach in the sun.

Sunscreen should be applied 15-30 minutes before going out into the sun. Rub it onto clean, dry skin and reapply once outside repeating every couple of hours - more often if it has been sweated or washed off, eg: after a swim.

DRINK UP!

Kids can get dehydrated very quickly while rushing around playing in the sun and they often forget to drink enough. Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you are taking in, leaving your body unable to function properly.

A dehydrated child may seem very tired, feel thirsty and possible dizzy/light headed. They will generally pass urine less than usual which if dehydrated will be dark amber in colour instead of almost clear.

It is very important to make sure that children drink lots of fluids in hot weather as dehydration in younger children can be particularly serious. If your child has bad symptoms seek medical advice at once.

In babies dehydration can lead to dry skin and fever and sunken fontanelles - the soft spot on the top of their heads.

KEEP COOL

It's also important that your child does not become overheated in warm weather as this can lead to heat exhaustion. This happens when your body cannot lose heat fast enough. If left untreated it can lead to heatstroke which is very dangerous.

Signs of heat exhaustion to look out for include nausea, headaches, feeling faint or dizzy and also a rapid heartbeat.

If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms lie him down flat on his back with his feet slightly raised in a cool shady place. Loosen or remove clothing and give cool liquids to drink but NOT with ice.

If he appears feverish or is confused call an ambulance at once!

INSECTS

Keep the bugs from biting. At dawn and dusk when insects are most active, stay away from ponds or swamps, flowering plants and areas where food is being served outside.

If your child seems particularly prone to insect bites keep their arms and legs covered and choose a repellent specially formulated for children. Mothercare sell a children's insect repellent wristband that works for up to 14 days priced at £2.99 each.

It is thought that the taste of yeast in the blood also prevents insects from biting so if your child loves marmite then pehaps its a good idea for them to have some on toast. Adults and children over the age of 12 can also take a vitamin B supplement which is believed to also help combat insect bites or eat natural foods rich in vitamin B such as bananas and garlic.

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