Sun
Exposure to the sun is important as it
provides us with vitamin D. Vitamin D
helps our bodies absorb calcium from
Safety
our food which makes our bones strong
and healthy.
However, too much exposure to the Sun’s
UV (ultraviolet) rays can cause skin
damage, eye damage and even skin cancer.
Children get a lot of sun exposure before the
age of 18 and so it is important that they
learn how to protect their skin in the sun.
Sun Exposure UVA rays can cause skin damage
and even skin cancer. UVA rays
The light that the Sun provides has pass through the Earth’s protective
invisible UV rays. When these rays shield (the ozone layer) and make up
reach the skin, they cause it to tan or the majority of our sun exposure.
burn. Sunlight contains three types of
ultraviolet rays: UVA, UVB and UVC.
UVB rays can contribute to sunburn
and eye damage. Most UVB rays are
absorbed by the ozone layer, however,
enough of them do pass through to
cause serious damage to our skin.
UVC rays are the most dangerous.
Fortunately, these are blocked by the
ozone layer and don’t reach the Earth.
visit [Link]
Sun
Melanin: The Body’s Defence
Our skin has a chemical called melanin
in it. When our skin is exposed to the sun,
Safety
the melanin reacts and tries to absorb the
dangerous UV rays. As the melanin reacts to
the sun, our skin tans. If the skin is exposed
to too much sun, the melanin can no longer
protect it and the skin then burns.
The lighter someone’s skin is, the less melanin
it has. The darker someone’s skin, the more
melanin it has. Therefore, those with lighter
skin need to take more precautions to protect
their skin from the sun.
How to Protect Your Skin
In order to protect your skin from the sun, there are several things to remember. Firstly,
stay out of the sun when it is at its hottest (usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.).
Secondly, apply sunscreen regularly. If you are in and out of water, you will need to
use a sunscreen which is water resistant so that it doesn’t wash off. Thirdly, wear a
hat to protect your head and face (the scalp can burn very easily and so needs to be
protected) and lightweight clothes to protect your body. Lastly, don’t forget about your
eyes! Sun exposure damages the eyes as well as the delicate skin around it. Therefore,
wear a pair of sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB rays.
Did You Know…?
Not all sunscreens are the same
and some have less protection
than others.
Check the bottle and make sure that
it protects against both UVA and
UVB rays.
Buy one that has a factor of at least
30; factor 50 is the highest and is
known as ‘sunblock’.
visit [Link]
Sun Safety
Sun Safety Questions
1. What nutrient does vitamin D help our bodies to absorb? Tick one.
vitamin E
calcium
iron
vitamin C
2. Fill in the missing word.
Children get a lot of sun before the age of 18 and so it is
important that they learn how to protect their skin in the sun.
3. Find and copy a word that shows that we cannot see UV rays.
4. Which UV ray are we exposed to the most? Tick one.
UVA
UVB
UVC
all of them
5. Explain why someone with lighter skin needs to take more precaution to protect their
skin than someone with darker skin.
6. Draw lines to show how you can protect different parts of your body.
Wear sunscreen to protect your eyes.
Wear a hat to protect your body.
Wear sunglasses to protect all of your skin.
Wear lightweight clothes to protect your scalp.
visit [Link]
Sun Safety
7. What factor does ‘sunblock’ have?
8. Explain why it is important to check your bottle of sunscreen.
visit [Link]
