Sun Protection Reading Passage

Exposure to the sun is important as it provides us with vitamin D. Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium from our food which makes our bones strong and healthy.

What nutrient does vitamin D help our bodies to absorb?

• vitamin D

• calcium

• iron

• vitamin C

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 ____________________ before the age of 18 and so it is important that they learn how to protect their skin from the sun.

Sun Exposure

The light that the sun provides has invisible UV rays. When these rays reach the skin, they cause it to tan or burn. Sunlight contains three types of UV rays:

• * UVA rays can cause skin damage and even skin cancer. They pass through the Ozone Layer and make up the majority of our sun exposure.
• * UVB rays can contribute to sunburn and eye damage. Some of them pass through the ozone layer.
• * UVC rays are the most dangerous. They are blocked by the Ozone Layer, so they do not reach the earth.

Find and copy a word that shows that we cannot see UV rays.

Sun Exposure

The light that the sun provides has invisible UV rays. When these rays reach the skin, they cause it to tan or burn. Sunlight contains three types of UV rays:

* UVA rays can cause skin damage and even skin cancer. They pass through the Ozone Layer and make up the majority of our sun exposure.

* UVB rays can contribute to sunburn and eye damage. Some of them pass through the ozone layer.

* UVC rays are the most dangerous. They are blocked by the Ozone Layer, so they do not reach the earth.

Which UV ray are we exposed to the most? Tick one.

• UVA

• UVB

• UVC

• all of them

Melanin: The Body's Defense

Our skin has a chemical called 'melanin' in it. When our skin is exposed to the sun, 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.

Explain why someone with lighter skin needs to take more precaution to protect their skin than someone with darker skin.

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 (between 10 am and 4 pm).

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. Wear 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.

What do you need to wear to protect different parts of your body from the sun? (HINT: 4 things)

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'.

What factor does 'sunblock' have?

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'.

Explain why it is important to check your bottle of sunscreen.