Sun Safety Information for Summer Health classes

1. SUN SAFETYSUN SAFETY
Protecting Yourself
from UV Radiation

2. Ultraviolet Radiation - UV
What is Ultraviolet Radiation?

3. Ultraviolet Radiation - UV
 The sun is the energy source that
sustains all life on earth.
 Ultraviolet Radiation (UV) is simply
one form of energy coming from the
sun.

4. Ultraviolet Radiation - UV
Sunlight contains 3 types of UV rays…

5. Ultraviolet Radiation - UV
1.1. UVAUVA—causes skin aging & wrinkles.
Used in tanning beds. Colors skin
and gives false sense of protection
from the sun. UVA rays pass
effortlessly through the ozone layer.

6. Ultraviolet Radiation - UV
2.2. UVBUVB—causes sunburns, cataracts,
immune system damage, skin
cancer. Melanoma may be
associated with severe UVB
sunburns occurring before the age of
20. Most UVB rays are absorbed by
the ozone layer.

7. Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma State University
Ultraviolet Radiation - UV
3.3. UVCUVC—these rays are the most
dangerous. Fortunately, these rays
are blocked by the ozone layer and
don’t reach the earth.

8. Ultraviolet Radiation - UV
Even on cloudy, cool, or overcast days, UV
rays travel through the clouds and reflect off
sand, water, snow, and even concrete.
Clouds and pollution don’t filter out UV rays,
and can give a false sense of protection.
This “invisible sun” can cause unexpected
sunburn and skin damage.

9. Ultraviolet Radiation - UV
The sun’s light is strongest when it is highest
in the sky (normally from 10 AM to 4 PM).
UV rays are strongest during the summer.
UV intensity is greater at high altitudes.
Skiers need to take extra care.

10. Ultraviolet Radiation - UV
The UV Index* predicts the next day’s UV levels on a
0-10+ scale.
*Developed by the National Weather Service and the EPA.
UV Index
Number
Exposure
Level
Minutes to
Burn
0 to 2 Minimal 60
3 to 4 Low 45
5 to 6 Moderate 30
7 to 9 High 15
10+ Very high 10

11. Effects of UV Exposure
Sunburn

12. Effects of UV Exposure
Sunburn develops when the amount of UV
exposure is greater than the protection your
skin’s melanin can provide.
The lighter your skin, the less melanin it has
to absorb UV and protect itself.
All skin, no matter the color, thickens and
hardens with continued sun exposure,
resulting in wrinkles later in life.

13. Effects of UV Exposure
Eye Damage

14. Effects of UV Exposure -
EYES
 Spending long hours in the sun with no eye
protection may increase your chance of developing
cataracts.
– A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision.
 Even low amounts of sunlight can increase the risk
of eye disorders.
 UVB damage to the eyes is cumulative, so it is
never too late to start protecting your eyes.

15. Effects of UV Exposure
Skin Damage

16. Effects of UV Exposure -
SKIN
There are about 1.3 million new cases
of skin cancer in the U.S. each year,
resulting in about 9,800 deaths.
Melanoma is one type of skin cancer.
It is the most common cancer among
women between the ages of 25 and
29.

17. Effects of UV Exposure -
SKIN
Skin cancer is the most common of
cancers and is largely preventable.
Increased outdoor leisure time, less
clothing worn outdoors, and decreased
ozone levels are partly to blame.

18. Effects of UV Exposure-
SKIN
Compare the underside of your arm to
the topside of your arm to see the
effect of sun exposure on your skin.
“Sun damage” causes wrinkles, easy
bruising, brown “liver” spots, and
potentially, skin cancer.

19. Effects of UV Exposure -
SKIN
Scientists believe sunburns can alter
the body’s immune system for up to 24
hours after exposure to the sun.
Repeated overexposure to UV
radiation can cause more damage to
the body’s immune system, even in
people with dark skin.

20. 20
What is Cancer?
Occurs when cells in a body part begin
to grow out of control and crowd out
normal cells.

21. 21
What is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers
Most skin cancers are:
• slow-growing
• easy to recognize
• relatively easy to treat when detected early
Most skin cancers are caused by too much
exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, mostly
from the sun but also from tanning beds.

22. 22
The American Cancer Society Estimates
• More than one million new cases of basal
and squamous cell cancers occur annually
in the United States.
• The most serious form of skin cancer is
melanoma.
• This year approximately 68,720 people will
be diagnosed with melanoma and
approximately 8,650 will die.
• Melanoma rates are more than 10 times
higher in Caucasians than in African
Americans.

23. 23
Two Types of Skin Cancer
 1. Non-Melanomas – (most common
skin cancers)
– Include Basal Cell and
Squamous Cell Cancers
– Can be fast or slow growing,
but rarely spread
– Found on sun exposed parts
of body like the head and neck
– This year approximately
2,940 people will die from

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Types of Skin Cancer
2. Melanomas
– Can occur anywhere on the body
– Less common, but more serious
– Almost always curable when detected
early
– More likely to spread to other parts of
body
– This year approximately 8,650 people
will die from melanoma

25. What is a tan?
Tanning, like sunburn, is literally a form
of skin injury.
Ultraviolet radiation can damage your
DNA at a cellular level, which can lead to
cancer.
Although people with light skin are
more susceptible, darker skinned people
can also be affected.

26. What about tanning beds?
There is no evidence that tanning in a bed is any
safer than tanning in the sun -- in fact, some tanning
beds release much stronger UV light than the sun
does.
There is a 75% increase in risk for melanoma among
those who first use tanning beds in their teens and
early twenties.

27. Guidelines for Protection
Eye Protection

28. Guidelines for Protection -
SUNGLASSES
Sunglasses offer excellent protection.
Make sure the lenses are designed to
block out 95% of UV.
Polarizing lenses and mirror finishes
reduce glare, but have little effect in
blocking the absorption of UV rays.

29. Guidelines for Protection-
SUNSCREEN
Sunscreen doesn’t offer 100% protection.
SPF 30+ sunscreen blocks 96% of UV; SPF
15+ blocks out 93%.
In addition to sunscreen, wear a hat,
sunglasses, more clothing, and seek shade.
Limit your sun exposure during 10am-4pm

30. Guidelines for Protection-
SUNSCREEN
Using SPF 30+ instead of SPF 15+
does not mean you can safely double
your time in the sun.
Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before
going outside. Don’t rub it in—a light
film should stay visible.

31. Guidelines for Protection
Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours if
you are swimming or sweating a lot.
Fragrances and moisturizers in
sunscreen may cause allergic
reaction; experiment with other
brands if this is a problem.

32. Guidelines for Protection
Protective Clothing

33. Guidelines for Protection –
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Choose clothes that cover your arms,
legs and neck to ensure proper
protection.
You won’t get too hot or uncomfortable
in lightweight fabrics like cotton, hemp
or linen.

34. Guidelines for Protection –
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Most cotton and cotton/polyester fabrics
protect against 95% of UV, but are less
effective if wet, faded, or aged.
Dark colors are better at absorbing UV than
light colors.
If you choose to wear light colors, make sure
the fabric is a tight weave, such as canvas.

35. Guidelines for Protection –
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Appropriately designed clothing with
SPF built in, is great for protecting you
from the sun.