Children spend a lot of time outside during the summer, and are exposed to the sun and biting insects. Physicians remind parents of precautions they can take to keep kids safe and comfortable this summer. Parents often hear conflicting reports as to which products to use. The following are recommendations by the MAFP. Sunscreen The MAFP advise using a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater, even on cloudy days. The SPF indicates how long you can stay in the sun without burning. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Hats, sunglasses and clothing also screen out harmful rays. Family physicians suggest staying out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., applying sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and reapplying every two to three hours. Reapply sooner if your child is sweating or swimming, even if the sunscreen is waterproof. Babies younger than 6 months should be kept out of direct sunlight, and sunscreen should not be applied. Insects Protecting your children from mosquitoes and ticks is also a daunting task. Your best bet is to keep them indoors during the evening and early morning. When outdoors, use protective clothing and apply insect repellent with as little DEET as needed, but no more than 30 percent DEET. Do not apply repellent to infants younger than 2 months old. The Centers for Disease Control reports that a recent study shows that a product containing 23.8 percent DEET provided an average of five hours of protection from mosquito bites and ticks. A higher concentration of DEET does not mean that it protects better – just that it lasts longer. The challenge of keeping kids bite-free has intensified with awareness of the West Nile Virus. The virus is transmitted when an infected mosquito bites a person. However, not all mosquitoes are infected and, even if they were, not everyone who gets bitten by an infected mosquito will get the virus. The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) is a professional association of approximately 2,900 family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students organized to assist family physicians in providing quality medical care in Minnesota. The MAFP is the largest medical specialty organization in Minnesota, and is a state chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the largest medical specialty organization in the United States, with more than 93,000 members.
