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SunWise
a program that radiates good ideas
www.epa.gov/sunwise

Grades 6-8

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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Be SunWise

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What do you
know about the
Sun? 
                                          
                  

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The Sun

Helpful Harmful
Keeps Us Warm Causes Sunburns

Helps Plants Grow Makes Our Skin Wrinkle

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Helpful and Harmful Effects of Sunlight

Helpful Harmful
Keeps Us Warm Produces Suntan and Sunburn

Vitamin D Synthesis Effects Our Immune System

Help Plants Grow Causes Skin Cancer

Kills Germs Photosensitivity

Makes Us Feel Good Makes Your Skin Wrinkle

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Provides Light To See By Causes Eye Damage 5

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The Sun…

…is essential for life on

Earth.
It helps plants to grow,
and provides warmth and
light.
Sunlight also helps people
to be happy and healthy.
Introductio

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The Sun…
…produces light and warmth
but also Ultraviolet (UV)
radiation. UV radiation
cannot be seen or felt.

It is UV radiation, not the

warmth or brightness of the
sun that causes changes to
skin color, damage to eyes,
and other bad health effects.

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Sun Safe
Behaviors

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The Ozone Layer…

 …is a thin shield high up in the sky. It

protects life on Earth from the sun's
ultraviolet (UV) rays.
 In the 1980s, scientists began finding
the ozone being depleted allowing
more UV radiation to reach the
Earth's surface.
 The level of UV radiation that reaches
the Earth’s surface can vary,
depending on a variety of factors.
Introductio

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UV radiation levels vary

depending on:

 Time of day
 Time of year
 Latitude
 Altitude
 Weather Conditions
 Environment-Reflection
 Stratospheric Ozone
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UV Radiation

UV Radiation

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How do we measure UV
radiation levels?
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We use the UV Index Scale.
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8 Reported on a scale of 1 -11+.
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Take special care when the
4 UV Index is 5-6 or higher.
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2
1
Introductio

UV
index
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The Burning Facts…

There is no such thing as a healthy

suntan.
 UVA rays –premature Aging
 UVB rays –cause of sunBurn
 Skin type affects the degree some
people burn.
 Use Sunscreen with SPF of 15 or
more.
Introductio

 SPF 30 is NOT twice as protective

as SPF 15. 13
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How Can You

Become
SunWise?

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Sun Safety Action Steps

Limit Time in Wear

the Midday Sun Sunglasses

Seek Shade Use Sunscreen

Avoid Tanning
Cover Up
Parlors

Watch for the

Wear a Hat UV Index
Health Effects

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Sun Safety Action Steps

Limit Time
in the Midday
Sun
The sun’s rays are strongest between
10 am and 4 pm.

To the extent possible, limit exposure

Introductio

to the sun during these hours.

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Sun Safety Action Steps

Seek Shade

Staying under cover is one of the

best ways to protect yourself from
the sun.
But remember, shade structures do
Introductio

not offer complete sun protection.

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Sun Safety Action Steps

Cover Up

Wearing tightly woven, loose-fitting,

and full-length clothing is a good way
to protect your skin from the sun’s
UV rays.
Introductio

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Sun Safety Action Steps

Use
Sunscreen
Use sunscreen of SPF 15+ liberally
and reapply every 2 hours, or after
working, swimming, playing, or
exercising outdoors.
Introductio

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Sun Safety Action Steps

Wear a Hat

A hat with a wide brim offers good

sun protection for your eyes, ears,
face, and the back of your neck.
Introductio

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Sun Safety Action Steps

Wear
Sunglasses
Sunglasses that provide 99 to 100
percent UVA and UVB protection will
greatly reduce sun exposure that can
lead to cataracts and other eye
Introductio

damage.
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Sun Safety Action Steps

Avoid Tanning
Parlors

The light source from sunbeds and

sunlamps damages the skin and
unprotected eyes. It is a good idea
to avoid artificial sources of UV light.
Introductio

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Sun Safety Action Steps

Watch for
the UV Index
The UV Index provides important
information to help you plan your
outdoor activities in ways that prevent
overexposure to the sun. The UV
Index is issued daily across the United
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Are You
SunWise?

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True or False?

You can get

sunburned
on a cloudy
day.
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True or False?

You can get

sunburned
on a cloudy
day.

Even on an overcast day, 30

TRUE to 60 percent of the sun’s
rays can reach the Earth’s
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True or False?
You only need to
wear sunscreen
when you are at
the beach.
Introductio

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True or False?
You only need to
wear sunscreen
when you are at
the beach.

You do not have to be

FALSE actively sunbathing to get a
damaging dose of the sun.
Introductio

Everyday exposure counts!

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True or False?

Sunscreen with a
SPF of LESS than
15 is enough to
Sunscreen
protect my skin.

SPF 8
Introductio

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True or False?

Sunscreen with a
Sunscreen SPF of LESS than
15 is enough to
protect my skin.
SPF 15

Use Sunscreen with SPF 15

FALSE or Higher. Remember, an
ounce of prevention is
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worth a pound of cure. 30

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True or False?
My skin doesn’t get
sunburned, so I don’t
need to worry about
protecting myself
from overexposure to
the sun.
Introductio

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True or False?
My skin doesn’t get
sunburned, so I don’t
need to worry about
protecting myself
from overexposure to
the sun.

Skin cancer and other bad

FALSE effects from the sun can
affect any person,
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regardless of skin color. 32

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Whatever You Do… Be SunWise!

Introductio

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SunWise
a program that radiates good ideas
www.epa.gov/sunwise

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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