Limit time in the midday sun. Check the UV Index. Use shade wisely. Wear protective clothing. Be SunWise: Action Steps for Sun Protection he SunWise School Program has developed a set of action steps for sun protection that can be used in the T classroom, on the playground, or elsewhere to help reduce students’ and adults’ risk from UV radiation. With these steps, preventing overexposure to the sun is simple. You and your students should always take the following precautions: ✔ The sun’s UV rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. To the extent possible, limit exposure to the sun during these hours. ✔ This important resource helps you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent overexposure to the sun’s rays. Developed by the National Weather Service and EPA, the UV Index is available on the SunWise Web site (www.epa.gov/sunwise/ uvindex.html) in a ZIP code-searchable format. The UV Index uses numbers to represent the likely level of UV exposure (Minimal: 0-2; Low: 3-4; Moderate: 5-6; High: 7-9; Very High: 10+). While you should always take precautions against overexposure, take special care to adopt sun safety practices when the UV Index predicts exposure levels of moderate or above. Watch for possible changes to the UV Index in 2004. ✔ Seek shade when UV rays are the most intense, but keep in mind that shade structures (e.g., trees, umbrellas, canopies) do not offer complete sun protection. ✔ A hat with a wide brim offers good sun protection for your eyes, ears, face, and the back of your neck. Sunglasses that provide 99 to 100 percent UV-A and UV-B protection will greatly reduce eye damage from sun exposure.
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