Playground shade structures continue to be a vital shade application for schools

June 6th, 2018 · Published to Playgrounds

Playground shade structures are a vital requirement in Australia. Australia is known to experience extreme UV radiation levels. While adults understand this and they take sun protection measures, children do not. Children should never be allowed to play in playgrounds without shade here in Australia.

As a shade solution manufacturer, nothing worries me more than seeing playgrounds without shade structures. Sure, some playgrounds do have mature trees around. But they don’t offer any shade otherwise. And, with the changing angle of the sun throughout the day, tree shade won’t do any good. That’s why every playground in Australia must consider making use of playground shade structures.

Today, I’ll take this opportunity to outline why playground shade structures are a vital application for schools. I’ll even offer some facts on UV radiation and recommend some shade products that are ideal for use in playgrounds.

Schools must not be complacent about sun protection

Recently, Cancer Council Queensland warned schools across the region not to be complacent about sun protection. This is because studies state that children are at most risk of developing skin cancer due to excessive sun exposure. High exposure to the sun during the first 10 years doubles the risk of developing melanoma cancer later on.

Also, there is absolutely no link between the UV radiation levels and temperature levels. While it may seem like a cool day in autumn, the UV index is still way above dangerous levels. Also, even if it is somewhat cloudy, UV radiation still manages to get through. Schools must understand this and take adequate measures to protect children across all seasons.

Some facts on UV radiation

I’m sure you’re aware that exposure to UV radiation is the prime cause of melanoma skin cancer. But, did you know that skin cancer accounts for 80% of all cancer cases in Australia? In fact, more than 1,600 Australians die from skin cancer every year, while over 430,000 Australians are treated every year.

The average UV levels in Australia in autumn ranges between 10-12, which is considered to be extremely high. According to the Cancer Council, any level of UV radiation above 3 requires sun protection.

This just goes to show how dangerous UV radiation is in Australia. Thankfully, melanoma skin cancer is preventable, provided that you take adequate sun protection measures. Schools as well as parents in Australia should understand this and keep their children protected.

Quality playground shade structures offered by Global Shade

At Global Shade, we’re Australia’s leading provider of shade structures. We offer a full range of shade products ranging from shade sails to canopies and membranes and from awnings to outdoor blinds. Of all our shade products, we also specialise in providing playground shade structures.

Whether the requirements are for a large playground or a small kids play-area, we can offer appropriate playground shade structures. We make use of special shade fabrics in our shade products which offer up to 99% UV protection. No wonder that our shade sails and canopies are used in various schools, kindergartens and other playgrounds across Australia.

Conclusion:

Every playground in Australia needs a shade structure. Australia experiences extreme UV levels throughout the year. Excessive exposure to the sun’s UV rays is the prime cause of melanoma skin cancer. Moreover, children who are exposed to excessive sunshine are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

That’s why every playground should consider playground shade structures in addition to natural shade. Shade structures such as shade sails, large canopies and tension membranes are good choices for use in playgrounds.

And, for all your playground shade structure needs, look no further than us at Global Shade. To discuss your playground shade structure requirements, give us a call at 1800 724 407 today!