Hats
Hats offer the best method of minimizing ultraviolet radiation (UV) to the face, head, ears, and neck. Different styles of hats provide varying levels of sun protection, but any hat is better than no hat.
A hat with a wide brim that goes all the way around offers the best protection for the face, nose, head, ears, and neck. The hat’s brim should be at least 3 to 4 inches wide. A wide-brimmed hat provides approximately 50 percent protection from direct UV exposure.
A flappy-jack or legionnaire cap provides good protection for the ears and neck but leaves areas of the face exposed to the sun.
Baseball hats offer some protection for the face but do not protect the sensitive skin on the face, ears and neck.
Visors do not protect the face, head, ears or neck. But any hat is better than no hat.
To promote hats:
- Establish guidelines for acceptable types of hats for school use.
- Encourage or even require students to wear wide-brimmed, sun safe hats for outdoor activities and field trips.
- Encourage teachers and playground monitors to set good examples by wearing hats when outside.
- Adopt a “No hat, stay in the shade or inside” policy.
- Adopt a school uniform policy that requires hats.
- Solicit the help of student leaders (e.g., student council, cheerleaders) to promote the wearing of hats among their peers.
- Sell hats with the school colors and logo.
- Offer awards each month for the class with the most students wearing hats outside every day.
