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Sun Safety

Do Not Burn
If you get five or more sunburns, it significantly increases your risk of developing skin cancer.

Avoid Sun Tanning and Tanning Beds
Ultraviolet (UV) light from tanning beds and the sun causes skin cancer, wrinkling, and damage to unprotected eyes. If you want to look like you have a tan, consider using a sunless tanning product, and always use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 or higher.

Generously Apply Sunscreen
Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin using a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15, or higher, that provides broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Remember to reapply every two hours, even on cloudy days, and also after swimming or sweating.

Wear Protective Clothing
Whenever possible, wear:

• Long sleeved shirt
• Long pants
• Sunglasses that block 99 to 100% UVA and UVB radiation
• A wide brimmed hat, protecting your eyes, ears, face, and the back of your neck.

Seek Shade
The sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so look for shade when you can. Remember the shadow rule when in the sun: "Watch Your Shadow. No Shadow, Seek Shade!"

Use Extra Caution Near Water, Snow and Sand
Water, snow and sand reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn.

Watch for the UV Index
The UV (ultraviolet) Index forecasts daily the intensity of the sun's rays when the sun appears to have reached its highest point in the sky during the day. This is called "solar noon." Usually, this is not the same time as "clock noon". The relationship between clock noon and solar noon depends on your location within your time zone and the time of year.

The UV Index provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent overexposure to the sun. Developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the UV Index is issued daily in selected cities across the United States, predicting the next day's ultraviolet radiation levels on a 1 through 11+ scale. 1 being low, 11+ being extreme.

To find the time of solar noon at your location, use the sunrise sunset solar noon calculator at the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Web site at www.srrb.noaa.gov/highlights/sunrise/sunrise.html

Get Vitamin D Safely
Include in your diet vitamin supplements and foods fortified with Vitamin D. Don't seek the sun.

Early Detection of Melanoma
Early detection of melanoma can save your life. Carefully examine ALL of your skin once a month. A new or changing mole should be evaluated by a dermatologist. Melanoma is a potentially fatal form of skin cancer that begins in the melanocytes. It can spread rapidly. It is usually curable if found early.

References:
EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency)
SunWise Program
January, 2009
www.epa.gov