Sun exposure safety in schools: sunscreen, hydration and timeouts

The weather is continuing to heat up. Last week, we discussed dehydration, heat exhaustion and how these heat-related illnesses can escalate into heatstroke – a serious, potentially life-threatening medical emergency.

Spending time outdoors in the sun is genuinely good for children. Natural sunlight helps regulate sleep by keeping the body's internal clock in sync, supports the production of serotonin (linked to mood and wellbeing), and helps the body produce vitamin D, which is essential for healthy bones, teeth and muscles. For pupils, a sunny school day can boost engagement, energy, and overall mood.

But sunshine comes with real risks that schools need to plan for. Excessive physical activity combined with poor sun safety practices can lead to overexertion, sunburn, dehydration, and heat-related illness. Children are particularly vulnerable: they may not always recognise the early warning signs of overheating, and symptoms can develop quickly during playtime, PE, and outdoor activities.

For schools, preparation is key. In this week's issue of The First-Aid Room, we explore practical steps schools can take to protect pupils during sunny weather, focusing on sunscreen use, hydration, and structured rest breaks.

Sunscreen: making it part of the school day

Even on overcast days, UV rays can still cause skin damage – so sunscreen isn't just for heatwaves. Building sun protection into the school routine during warmer months is one of the simplest and most effective steps schools can take.

The most practical approach is to encourage pupils to arrive at school already wearing sunscreen, applied at home as part of the morning routine. Clear communication with parents and carers can make a real difference: a brief reminder in the newsletter or on the school app can contribute to shifting habits.

For extended outdoor activities, such as sports days, trips, or outdoor learning, schools should consider how reapplication will be managed, particularly for younger pupils who may need prompting or support. Encouraging hats and lightweight layers during peak UV hours adds another layer of protection, and directing pupils towards shaded areas where possible helps reduce overall exposure.

💡 Good to know:

• UV rays can still damage skin on cloudy days, so sun protection should be part of the routine throughout warmer months, not just on sunny days.
• The UV index in the UK can reach moderate to high levels between April and September, particularly between 11am and 3pm.
• For younger pupils, staff may need to provide additional reminders or structured support before outdoor learning, school trips, or sports days.
  
  

Small, consistent habits can significantly reduce the risk of sunburn and long-term skin damage.

Hydration: keeping pupils safe in the heat

Children can become dehydrated quickly in warm weather (especially during physical activity) and unlike adults, they don't always recognise thirst or know when they need to drink more. This makes hydration one of the most important things schools can actively manage on hot days.

Effective hydration support doesn't require complicated systems. Encouraging regular water breaks during lessons and play, ensuring pupils have easy access to their water bottles throughout the day, and reminding them to drink before and after physical activity are all straightforward measures that make a real difference.

Staff should also know what to look for. Common signs of dehydration include:

• Dry mouth, lips and tongue
• Headache
• Tiredness or low energy
• Complaints of dark yellow urine or infrequent toilet trips
• Sunken eyes (the skin under the eyes appears noticeably thin, hollow or dark)
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Difficulty concentrating

Catching these signs early and responding with rest and fluids can prevent a manageable situation from escalating into something more serious such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Timeouts: managing activity in warm conditions

Physical activity is an essential part of the school day, and warm weather shouldn't stop it, but it does need to be managed more carefully. When temperatures rise, the intensity and duration of outdoor activity should be adjusted to match.

Structured rest breaks, or "timeouts," give pupils the chance to recover, cool down, and continue activity safely.

In practice, this might look like:

• Scheduling regular breaks in shaded or cool areas

• Reducing the pace or length of PE sessions on particularly hot days

• Rotating groups more frequently during outdoor sports sessions

• Creating a clear, low-pressure way for pupils to flag when they're feeling unwell or overheated
  
  

These adjustments don't undermine outdoor learning; they protect it. Pupils who are hydrated and not overheated will always perform and engage better than they would if they were struggling in the heat.

Recognising the signs of heat-related illness and responding effectively

Even with strong preventative measures in place, it's important that staff feel confident recognising the early signs of heat-related illness and know how to respond quickly.

Symptoms to watch for include:

• Excessive sweating
  
• Excessive thirst
• Nausea or vomiting
  
• Fatigue or weakness
• Tiredness and dizziness
• Headache or a high temperature
• Muscle cramps in the arms, legs and stomach
• Fast breathing or heartbeat
• Skin becoming pale and clammy (changes in skin colour can be harder to see on brown and black skin)
  
• Getting a heat rash (prickly heat)
  
  

If any of these are spotted, act promptly: move the pupil to a cool, shaded area, encourage them to drink water if they're conscious, and remove excess clothing.

If symptoms worsen, particularly if a pupil becomes confused, stops sweating, or is unresponsive, seek medical attention immediately, as these can be signs of heatstroke.

We covered the full progression from heat exhaustion to heatstroke in last week's issue, including what to do at each stage. It's worth revisiting if you missed it.

A whole-school approach to sun and heat safety

Preparation is key: sun safety works best when it's embedded into school life rather than treated as a seasonal afterthought. Sunscreen routines, hydration habits, and structured rest breaks are most effective when staff, pupils, and families are all on the same page.

Schools can help reduce risk by:

✅ Reminding families to apply sunscreen at home as part of the morning routine
✅ Ensuring pupils have access to drinking water at all times and allowing for regular drink breaks throughout the day
✅ Scheduling outdoor activities outside peak heat hours where possible
✅ Providing shaded areas for break times and PE lessons
✅ Training staff to recognise early signs of heat-related illness
✅ Allowing uniform adjustments during heatwaves where possible
✅ Educating pupils on the importance of hydration

With clear communication and simple systems in place, schools can make the most of warmer weather – keeping pupils active, outdoors, and safe at the same time.

Supporting resources

Below are some resources to support your school's approach to sun safety this term. The staff checklist provides a simple daily reference to help your team stay on top of key routines, from sunscreen reminders to spotting early signs of heat-related illness. The parent brochure is ready to share with families to help reinforce good habits at home. Together, these resources are designed to support a joined-up, whole-school approach to keeping pupils safe in the sun.

1. Staff Quick Guide – Dehydration
2. Sun Safety Checklist for Schools (A4 poster)
3. Parents Guidance - Sun Safety in School (brochure)