United States Office of Air and Radiation Environmental » Stratospheric Protection Protection Agency Division &EPA UV INDEX June 1994 EPA430-F-94419 BULLETIN OF SAMPLP PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGES TO ACCOMPANY UV INDEX Composite Health Messages for Five Exposure Categories Minimal. An Ultraviolet (UV) Index reading of 0 to 2 means minimal danger from the sun's UV rays for the average person. Host people can stay in the noon sun for up to one hour without burning. Persons with extra sensitive skin or infants should always be protected from prolonged sun exposure. Low. An Index reading of 3 to 4 means you may be at low risk of sunburn and other skin damage from the sun's rays. Fair-skinned people may burn in less than 20 minutes. Wearing a hat with a brim and sunglasses will protect your eyes. Use of a sunscreen or protective clothing will enable you to stay in the sun longer. Moderate. An Index reading of 5 to 6 means you may be at moderate risk of sunburn and other skin damage due to the sun. Pair-skinned people may burn in less than 15 minutes. A sunscreen with a sunscreen protective factor (SPF) of at least 15 is recommended. Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes. High. An Index reading of 7 to 9 means you may be at high risk of harm from unprotected exposure to the sun. Fair-skinned people may burn in less than 10 minutes. Enjoy your daily activities by liberally applying sunscreen of at least SPF 15, 'and by wearing a hat with a brim and sunglasses. Limit your time in the midday sun. very High. An Index reading of 10 and above means you are at very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Fair- skinned people may burn in less than 5 minutes. Try to avoid being out in the sun during midday hours, from 10:30 to 3:30 PH. Wear protective clothing and use a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 liberally and often. Always wear a hat with brim and sunglasses. Outdoor workers are especially at risk. Note: It is appropriate in many cities across the country to remind people that at nearby locations exposure to UV rays may be much higher than the UV Index would indicate. Where there is Recycled/Recyclable Prtnttd wBh Soy/Canol« ink on paper that ooMriitt at toast SOKraeyctaltter ------- J snow cover or water, reflected UV from water and snow may be quite strong. Where the altitude is much higher, there is less atmosphere to screen out UV rays and exposure will be higher. Precautions such as sunscreen and sunglasses are particularly important under these conditions. Using Your Shadow to Estimate UV Intensity If it is not heavily overcast, UV exposure changes during the day. Providing a simple rule-of-thumb for the UV intensity may encourage people to take more precautions when their exposure is likely to be the greatest. (Some caution in using this shadow rule-of-thumb is needed, because people can experience significant UV exposure on a cloudy day, when they cannot see their shadow.) o One way to judge how much exposure to UV rays you are getting is to look for your shadow. The longer your shadow (in the early morning and late afternoon), the less exposure to UV rays. The shorter your shadow (around noon), the more you are being exposed. You should take precautions to protect your skin and eyes. OR o If you can see your shadow, you are being exposed to UV radiation. You should take precautions to protect your skin and eyes. Health Messages Addressing Specific Health Risks or Prevention Actions Sunscreen and other protective measures o A sunblock usually reflects or scatters all UV rays. A snn block is a good choice for outdoor workers, roofers, builders, sailors, farmers etc. Sunblock is also a good choice for protecting the nose and the rims of the ears. (for Index 5 and above) o Sunscreens contain active ingredients which absorb at least 85% of the UVB rays and may or may not absorb the UVA rays of the sun. Read labels carefully and choose a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15 which filters out both UVA and UVB radiation, (for Index 3 and above) o Application of sunscreen should be part of the daily routine. The recommended dose is 1 ounce — or a quarter of a 4 ounce bottle — per application. o Use of a sunscreen with SPF of 20 to 30 offers substantial protection from sunburning. (for Index 7 and above) H ------- o Choose a broad spectrum sunscreen which filters out UVA and UVB. (for Index 3 and above) o Apply sunscreens to all exposed areas of skin including those easily overlooked areas such as the rims of the ears, the back of the neck, and the feet, (for Index 3 and above) o Use sunscreens of at least 15 which are specially formulated to the protect the lips. Lipsticks or lip balm will protect the tender skin of the lips and will not taste bitter. Regular sunscreens are bitter to the taste, (for Index 3 and above) o Don't forget your feet and the backs of your legs. These are the areas that are usually covered and so they are particularly susceptible to the sun's burning rays, (for Index 5 and above) o All skin types need protection from solar ultraviolet rays. Lighter skin types are at the greatest risk of developing skin cancer; but all people are at some risk. Wrinkling, toughening, and aging of the skin will happen faster to sun bathers and others who spend time outdoors. Sun screens are recommended for everyone, (for Index 7 and above) o Apply sunscreen liberally. Recommended dose is 1 ounce per application. Reapply every two hours, after being in the water, or after exercising and sweating. Incidental time in the sun could add up to a sunburn. Don't forget the time spent walking your dog, window shopping, or jogging on your lunch hour, (for Index 7 and above) o Don't forget the sunscreen when performing outdoor chores. (for Index 3 and above) -4 *» W Protective Clothing o Hats with large brims offer protection to the face, ears, neck and eyes. Hats may be easier than eyeglasses for tots to wear, (for Index 3 and above) o Tightly-woven fabrics afford the most protection against UV rays. UV rays can pass through the holes and spaces of loosely-knit fabrics, (for Index 7 and above) Sun Avoidance o Avoid the noon day sun. Typically the amount of exposure at 8 or 4 is only one-third of that at noon. Remember, however, that you can still get a sunburn even in the ------- midafternoon. (for Index 5 and above) o Seeking shade is a good idea but don't forget that sand, and pavement reflect UV rays even under the umbrella, (for Index 7 and above) o Skiers remember that snow is a particularly good reflector of UV rays. Wear UV protective sunglasses or goggles and sunscreen, (for winter and early spring) o Take a tip from the Victorians, use an umbrella as a sunshade, (for Index 7 and above) * Bye Protection o Wearing sunglasses can protect the eyes from 80 to 100% of the UV rays. (for Index 3 and above) o Wearing sunglasses protects the lids of our eyes as well as the lens. (for Index 5 and above) Immune Effects o Use of a lip balm or lip cream containing a sunscreen protects some people from recurrent lip eruptions of herpes simplex type 1 and 2. (for Index 5 and above) ------- |