The goals of SunPass

We would like to achieve the following goals with the SunPass program:

• The awareness of educational staff, parents and children on the subject of sun protection is raised

• A responsible use of the sun is learned

• The UV exposure of children in kindergarten is reduced

• The incidence of skin cancer is reduced in the long term
 

What is SunPass?

SUNPASS is a primary prevention project. The SunPass project is carried out annually. Participation in the project is free. The program starts in spring and ends at the end of summer. Educators, parents and children are involved in the project by means of various offers.

The SunPass program includes the following offers, which may vary depending on the state and provider:

• Preliminary discussion with the institution or with the provider

• Survey of the existing sun protection measures

• Training and information events for educational professionals and parents, supported by dermatologists

• Method handouts for various age-appropriate activities and units with which the educational staff of the daycare can playfully work out the topic of sun and sun protection with the children from nursery to preschool age

• Versatile materials for every age group for handicrafts and design in daycare

• A children's book on sun protection

• Site inspection and / or checklists in order to jointly plan and implement suitable sun protection measures in the daycare center

• Award for sun protection kindergarten after successful participation in the SunPass project

 
The sun protection agreement

The so-called sun protection agreement in the project provides the basis for learning how to deal with the sun in a healthy way and the right measures to protect against solar radiation.
The sun protection agreement describes all measures that should be implemented consistently in the facility in order to obtain the SunPass certification. The aim of the sun protection agreement is to inform everyone involved about sun protection and its importance and to effectively protect the children from harmful amounts of ultraviolet radiation and the sunburn that may result from it. The sun protection agreement should be “lived” and implemented from the first sunny days of spring until the end of autumn.
 
Sun protection measures
It is advisable to implement the sun protection measures described in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) from a UV index of 3.
 
UV index
The UV index is an internationally standardized measure that evaluates the intensity of UV radiation. The UV index can serve as a guide for taking suitable sun protection measures. It is therefore important to update this daily and to display it in the facility so that it is clearly visible for the educational staff and parents.

Seek shade
Sufficient shaded areas are made available on the kindergarten for outdoor activities, which, if possible, can be adapted to the course of the sun and the children's natural urge to move. When the sun is most intense, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the children are in the shade or, if the UV index values ​​are 8 or more, indoors. This behavior is also taken into account for excursions etc.
It should be noted that even shade cannot offer complete UV protection. Around 50% of the UV rays can be intercepted by trees, parasols or awnings. However, due to reflections and ambient radiation, you are still exposed to a significant amount of UV radiation. Even a closed cloud cover only blocks about 20% of the radiation.

Textile sun protection
In the case of high solar radiation, adequate and protective clothing must always be ensured. This alone can significantly reduce the risk of sunburn.

Dress
The typical "sun terraces" such as shoulders, upper arms, thighs, back and back of the feet should be covered. It is therefore advisable to wear T-shirts that come as far as possible to the elbows and pants or skirts that come as far as possible above the knees.

Headgear
When staying outdoors, headgear should always be worn that has the widest possible umbrella and neck protection. The neck, ears, eyes, lips and large parts of the face should be protected from sunlight.

Eye protection
According to dermatologists, suitable children's sunglasses are recommended. However, it is often not possible to wear sunglasses for day-to-day daycare, so each daycare center should decide for itself whether it is practical to wear children's sunglasses in the facility.

Sun cream
All children come to the facility in the morning or are put on before they go outside. If you sweat heavily and after contact with water, you should apply cream immediately. Otherwise, the cream is reapplied several times a day if necessary. Children's sun creams with sufficient UV-A / UV-B light protection and a high sun protection factor (at least 30, better 50) are recommended.

Skin protection in very young children
Small children and babies do not belong in direct sun!

It is also advisable not to apply sunscreen to children under one year of age, as their protective skin barrier is still too permeable.

Sun protection in everyday daycare
The topic of sun protection is conveyed to the children in a playful way using various materials and methods in their living environment. The method handout offers the educational staff in the day-care centers great ideas on age-appropriate offers and instructions for play, exercise and handicraft units and includes a number of templates for copying and coloring.

Role model function
Parents and educational staff should set a good example and actively implement the measures of the sun protection agreement.

That means:
• UV index is taken into account
• Applying sunscreen before going outdoors
• Wearing a sun hat
• Parents bring their children to daycare with cream
• Shaded places are preferred when staying outdoors