Go Sun Smart:

The Basics about Sun Safety

Making sure that you and your family are sun safe on vacation is not as difficult as it may sound. It begins with coaching all family members in the basic steps they can take to protect their skin and their vacation plans.

Sunscreen

Always wear sunscreen when planning to spend20 minutes or longer outdoors.

Sunscreen should:

  • Be at least SPF 30
  • Be broad-spectrum (protects you from UVA and UVB rays)
  • Be water-resistant

Sunscreen Application:

  • Apply a generous amount of sunscreen to all exposed skin (don’t forget your ears and the back of your neck).
  • Allow at least 30 minutes for your sunscreen to absorb before you head out into the sun so that the sunscreen can form its protective shield.
  • Be sure to reapply another layer of sunscreen every 2 hours throughout the day, and especially when it’s windy, you’re sweating, or you’re spending time in the water.

SPF Lip Balm

  • Don’t forget your lips!
  • Always wear a lip balm with an SPF of at least 30
  • Reapply often

Cover-up

Sunscreen is an effective way to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays, but it cannot block all UV rays. You should also cover up whenever possible. Consider wearing a wide brimmed hat, sun protective clothing, and sunglasses. Seek shade when you can or bring along your own sun umbrella.

UV Index

UV is an important indicator of the sun’s strength and its potential to cause skin damage. Published by the National Weather Service and the Environmental Protection Agency, the UV Index is available online at The UV Index also is featured on the weather page of many daily newspapers. It tells you just how harmful UV rays are on a given day using a scale that ranges from a low of 0 to a high of 11+. The higher the value on the UV Index, the more harmful UV rays are to unprotected skin.

UV Index Guide

A UV Index rating of 2 or less indicates Low Risk, and you do not need to take precautions unless you are going to be out in the sun for a long time.

A UV Index between 3 and 7 indicates Moderate Risk, and you should take some precautions to protect your skin and eyes from the sun.

A UV Index between 8 and10 indicates High Risk, and you should take more precautions to protect your skin and eyes from the sun.

A UV Index of 11 or higher indicates Extreme Risk, and you should take every precaution to protect your skin and eyes from the sun and consider limiting how long you are in direct sunlight.

You should practice sun safety whenever the UV index reaches 3 or above. Commit to checking the UV Index each day in your local paper or at

For more information, please visit the Go Sun Smart website at

Go Sun Smart: All Day, Every Day!