Even if you never sunburn, you can get skin cancer. Download the fun activities and fact sheets below to help teach children the importance of staying safe in the sun. The activities will reinforce sun-safe behaviors. SunWise Tool Kit Activities include educator and student pages that guide both the leader and the participant through the material--no prior knowledge necessary!
Health Effects of Overexposure to the Sun
Ozone layer depletion decreases our atmosphere's natural protection from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. This is a quick overview of the major health problems linked to overexposure to UV radiation.
Sun Protection
A sunburn or tan results when UV rays damage your unprotected skin and may lead to wrinkles, skin spots, or skin cancer. In addition, children should never be left in a car. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver or bystander of a child left in a car, it’s vitally important to understand children are more vulnerable to heatstroke than adults.
Sunscreen: The Burning Facts
Too much sun exposure can lead to adverse health effects, including skin cancer. However, this is preventable through a broad sun protection program. Learn how to protect you and your family from the dangerous effects of exposure to the sun.
A Guide to the UV Index
UV radiation exposure is a risk factor for skin cancer, cataracts, and other illnesses. The UV Index is a useful tool to help the general public take steps to reduce their exposure to solar UV radiation.
Protecting Yourself from the Sun: UV Safety and Skin Cancer
- Sun safety tips
- Play sun safety games
- Free Sun Safety Resources
Download the UV Index smartphone app
The Ultraviolet (UV) Index predicts the ultraviolet radiation levels on a 1-11+ scale. The UV Index provides a daily forecast of the expected intensity of UV radiation from the sun. To assist users in utilizing the UV Index forecast, EPA provides two options for viewing this information with your mobile device.
- Mobile Web
- Android
- iPhone - The app is in iTunes
- Blackberry - The app is in BlackBerry AppWorld
Preventing Child Heatstroke
Take Action if You See a Child Alone in a Car
If you see a child alone in a car, don’t worry about getting involved in someone else’s business—protecting children is everyone’s business; besides, “Good Samaritan” laws offer legal protection for those who offer assistance in an emergency.
Here’s What You Can Do
- Don’t wait more than a few minutes for the driver to return.
- If the child is not responsive or is in distress, immediately:
-Call 911.
-Get the child out of the car.
-Spray the child with cool water (not in an ice bath). - If the child is responsive:
-Stay with the child until help arrives.
-Have someone else search for the driver or ask the facility to page them.
Warning Signs of Heatstroke
- Red, hot, and moist or dry skin
- No sweating
- Strong, rapid pulse or slow, weak pulse
- Nausea
- Confusion or strange behavior
Prevent and Detect Skin Cancer
The first step toward a world without skin cancer is educating others about prevention and early detection. These free educational resources can help everyone learn how to prevent and detect skin cancer.
Can you spot skin cancer?
Skin Cancer in People of Color
People of color: This term refers to diverse skin colors and includes people of African, Asian, Latino, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Native American descent.
People of all colors, including those with brown and black skin, get skin cancer. Even if you never sunburn, you can get skin cancer.
When skin cancer develops in people of color, it’s often in a late stage when diagnosed. This can be deadly when the person has melanoma, a type of skin cancer that can spread quickly. Treatment for any type of skin cancer can be difficult in the late stages.
The good news is you can find skin cancer early. Found early, most skin cancers, including melanoma, can be cured.
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