Girl Guides and Young Leaders have spent the day at Oakwood Theme Park to help earn their Challenge badges by taking part in a sun safety scheme endorsed by Cancer Research UK. Guides from the 1st Narberth unit shadowed Oakwood's Sun Squad while they went on patrol around the park. The group of 10 to 16-year-olds joined the Sun Squad in giving advice to visitors on how to protect themselves in the sun and helped provide free sun cream to visitors at designated areas across the park. The Sun Squad scheme, launched last year, was designed by Oakwood to help the thousands of adults and children who pass through the park's gates daily to have fun in the sun without jeopardising their health. The Sun Squad staff have been trained in ways to avoid sunburn, overheating and dehydration as temperatures in Wales soar. Oakwood staff are also provided with sun cream, water and protective headgear. Genevieve Frisby, Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign manager, said: "Initiatives which protect children's skin are very important. Young skin is delicate and very easily damaged - all children, no matter whether they tan easily or not, should be protected from the sun. People forget that the Great British sun is quite capable of burning children, so it's important to take care whether you're in Pembrokeshire or Portugal! "Children (like adults) with fair or red hair, pale eyes, moles or freckles are most at risk. Remember to spend time in the shade between 11 and 3, make sure you never burn, aim to cover up with T-shirt, hat and sunglasses, then use factor 15-plus sunscreen." Paddy McNamara, managing director of Oakwood Theme Park, commented: "The Guides and Young Leaders were really enthusiastic and great listeners. We explained to them the importance of protecting yourself from the sun and they then took up the challenge of passing this message on to visitors within the park. "Following the success of the Sun Squad scheme last year with visitors and staff alike we were keen to carry it on this year. Visitors to Oakwood during the summer months spend up to 12 hours outdoors; we want to ensure we can provide them with everything they need to be safe in the sun while enjoying Oakwood." Melody Jackson, Guide leader, said: "Community awareness, both locally and globally, forms an integral part of the Girl Guiding movement. To earn their annual Challenge badges, the girls must be involved in at least one project involving their local community and this has been an ideal opportunity for them to achieve this section. The project will also be used by the girls to work on 'Go-for-it' challenges of their choice such as 'Take Action', 'I will survive', 'Teamwork' or 'Life wise'. "The Guides are always keen to be involved in any project of this kind and we would all like to say a big Girl Guide thank you to Mr. McNamara and his staff for giving us this opportunity."
TOP TIPS TO AVOID THE BURN
Protecting children from the sun need not be a rigorous or stressful process, as by following a few simple rules, all the necessary protection can be achieved: • Cover up, especially in the middle of the day - use wide-brimmed hats which cover the back of the neck as well as face, long-sleeved shirts and sunglasses. • Sun cream: use factor 15 or higher. Ideally, it should be applied 15-30 minutes before heading off outside. Apply it liberally and make sure all areas are covered, and re-apply after you've been in the sun just to be sure. • Take a change of clothes - especially important if you've been in the water, as wet clothing can lose up to half of its UV protection. • Wraparound-style sunglasses are beneficial, as they help protect the side of the face as well as the eyes, and 100 percent UV-blocking versions are available.