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News

Dolphin Shopping Centre's Summer Safety Campaign

The Dolphin Shopping Centre took to the beach to launch its Summer of Fun and Safety campaign to beach users at Sandbanks on Tuesday 15 August.  Centre Manager Steven Connolly was joined by Katie Attridge, Borough of Poole’s Consumer Protection Officer, and RNLI Lifeguards, in chatting to local people and raising awareness of water safety issues and the importance of skin protection, via sunscreen and sun protective clothing.

Over 600 free sachets of Soltan Kids SPF 60 ultra and SPF 50+ ultra sunscreen were given away to the people and families enjoying the sun at Sandbanks, the best beach in Britain, between 1.30pm and 3.30pm on Tuesday, together with specially produced safety information leaflets.  The sun’s rays are strongest in the middle of the day, and with recommendations that it is important to stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm and use appropriate sunscreen, it proved the perfect time to convey some of the campaign’s key messages to beach users.

Partnered by Boots and the Borough of Poole, with beach safety information provided by the RNLI, the initiative offers top tips and advice for having safe fun in the sun, on the beach and in the water.  Working as part of SWERCOTS , the trading standards partnership, research recently conducted by the Borough of Poole’s Environmental & Consumer Protection Services found that clothing, sun shades and sun shelters which should provide protection from the sun, actually let rays through to people’s skin. 

To claim sun protection, clothing must have a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 40, but many items tested were found to fall short of the safe SPF 40 level.  Consequently Trading Standards Officers are urging people to follow guidelines and look for the logo when choosing clothes for sun protection.  Dolphin Shopping Centre stores, Marks & Spencer and Next , feature genuine sun protective clothing – visit the stores for more details. 

Sunlight in moderation can be good for us; improving our mood and making us feel better.  The sun, however, also has damaging effects on the skin.  These may be short-term and mild, such as slight sunburn, or long-term and serious, such as skin cancer.  Those most at risk of damage from sunlight include babies and children, people with pale or freckly skin, people with red hair and people with lots of moles.

This summer RNLI Lifeguards are operating on 62 beaches in the south west, including Bournemouth and Poole.  On an average day in August the RNLI will rescue 18 children a day around the UK and Irish coasts and this is why the charity has launched a seaside safety initiative, Beachwise, to promote beach and sea safety.

The initiative is supported by the RNLI’s new education website and the charity is encouraging people to log on to www.rnli.org.uk/shorething for fun safety games, activities and videoclips.

Copies of the Dolphin Shopping Centre’s Summer of Fun and Safety leaflet are available from the Centre throughout August.  For a summer of fun and safety it’s got to be the Dolphin Shopping Centre.

Emma Spearing, Hazel PR, 01202 575946