Tasmania’s Director of Public Health has advised students, parents and schools that, for health reasons, it should be “hats off” until spring.

Roscoe Taylor said the “hats off” policy should be implemented statewide to boost children’s vitamin D levels during the colder months. For the same reason, Taylor said sunscreen should also be put away until spring and that schools and child-care centers should suspend their usual sun protection policies during recess and lunchtime until September.

On Wednesday, Taylor joined a group of third-grade children from Lansdowne Primary School, who threw off their hats to get a healthy dose of vitamin D while playing in the lunchtime sunshine.

Taylor said that in summer most Tasmanians received adequate vitamin through sun exposure received during typical day-to-day outdoor activities, but that in winter they need more than they currently are getting to meet health requirements.

“The message for parents and teachers is that it’s now safe for children not to wear hats at recess and lunchtime until spring, and it’s the same rule for little ones in childcare, too,” he says. “Vitamin D is important for good bone health and a strong immune system, and it largely is created in the body as a result of skin exposure to ultraviolet radiation. For that reason, people should not compromise their vitamin D levels by being ‘sun smart’ when it's not necessary. Therefore hats, and other forms of sun protection such as sunscreen, are not needed in Tasmania from now until the start of term three. It’s important that all Tasmanians get two to three hours of sunlight on their face, arms and hands each week and, what’s more, being active and getting outside to play in the sun is good for a child’s health in many other ways. It’s the same message for adults, too—we strongly encourage everyone to get out and about in the midday sun during winter. In addition to boosting vitamin D levels, it’s a great way to increase physical activity and give your mood a lift.”