&ERA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
/f you
spend
time
with kids in
the summer,
you want to
keep them safe
while providing fun outdoor
experiences. Did you know that over-
exposure to the sun and air
pollution can pose serious health
effects, especially to children? You
can take several simple actions to
protect kids—and yourself.
Good up high, bad nearby.'
Keeping Kids Safe from Sun and Smog
What's the Problem?
Ozone can be protective or harmful, depending on where it is found in the atmosphere.
Ozone is a naturally occurring gas in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere) that protects
us from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, certain man-made chemicals
released during the last 100 years have destroyed some of this protective ozone. Because
there is less ozone in the stratosphere to protect us, it is more important than ever to be
safe from the summer sun's rays.
Ozone at ground level (the troposphere) is formed from pollutants emitted by cars, power
plants, refineries, and other sources. Ground-level ozone is a primary component of a
chemical soup known as "smog." Breathing can be difficult, especially for asthmatics and
older adults, when the strong summer sun causes more smog to form. Your chances of
being affected by these higher smog levels increase the longer you are active outdoors and
the more strenuous the activity.
Health Effects
Overexposure to UV radiation can cause sunburns now, but also can lead to skin cancer,
cataracts, and premature aging of the skin. Because kids spend so much time in the
summer sun, and unprotected exposure during youth puts them at increased lifetime risk
for skin cancer, protecting kids from the sun is especially important.
Kids and teenagers who are active outdoors—especially those with asthma or other
respiratory problems—are particularly sensitive to ground-level ozone. Ozone can cause
coughing, throat irritation, and pain when taking a deep breath. It also can reduce lung
function, inflame the lining of the lungs, and even trigger asthma attacks the day after
ozone levels are high. Repeated inflammation over time may permanently scar lung tissue.
Check your daily UV Index and Air Quality Index (below), and follow the simple steps on the back of this fact sheet to protect kids' health.
UV Index (UVI) Air Quality Index (AQI)*
Exposure Category UVI Range
AQI Number
OtoSO
51 to 100
101 to 150
151 to 200
201 to 300
Health Concern
Good
Moderate
Unhealthy for
sensitive groups
Unhealthy
Very unhealthy
Color Code
Orange
*Ozone reports are usually only for metropolitan areas, but ozone blown by
the wind can also create health problems in rural areas.
Recycled/Recyclable — Printed with vegetable oil-based inks on processed chlorine-free paper that contains at least 50% post-consumer fiber.
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The UV Index
Developed by EPA, in
partnership with the
National Weather Service, the
UV Index is a daily forecast
of the strength of the sun's
UV radiation on a scale of 0—11+.
The higher the number, the greater the
potential for damage to the skin and eyes,
and the less time it takes for harm to occur.
Actions You Can Take
• Model SunWise behavior.
• Teach kids to Slip, Slop, Slap, and Wrap:
Slip on a shirt. Less skin exposed means less skin damage.
Slop on sunscreen. Twenty minutes before heading outside,
generously apply products of at least SPF 15, and re-apply
every 2 hours or after swimming or sweating.
Slap on a hat. Find a hat you like and wear it.
Wrap on sunglasses. Look for ones that block 99—100% of
UVA and UVB rays.
• Seek shade. Especially when the sun is most intense, from
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rotate players to allow breaks in the shade.
This is most important when the UV Index is 6 or above.
• Check the UV Index. Find out the risk every day.
• Get SunWise Certified.
Coaches and counselors:
Get free training on-line:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/sunwiserec/
Parents: Encourage those
looking out for your kids to get
certified to demonstrate their
knowledge of safety procedures.
The Air Quality Index
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a scale used by state and local air
agencies to report how clean or polluted the air is. Ground-level
ozone is one pollutant reported. An AQI under 101 (green or
yellow) means the air is acceptably clean, but as it rises into the
101-150 range (orange) people with conditions that make them
sensitive to air pollution may be at risk. Air with an AQI over 150
(red or purple) is considered unhealthy for everyone.
Actions You Can Take
• When the AQI reports unhealthy
levels, limit physical exertion
outdoors. In many places, ozone
peaks between mid-afternoon
and early evening. Change
the time of day of strenuous
outdoor activity to avoid
these hours, or reduce the
intensity of the activity.
• Pay attention to symptoms.
Know how to recognize
symptoms of respiratory discomfort,
such as coughing, wheezing, and
breathing difficulty, and reduce exposure if these occur.
• Rotate players in physically exerting games. Rest players to
reduce exertion.
• Provide alternative activities. Allow kids that have asthma or
other respiratory problems to participate in activities that are
less physical when pollution levels are high. If pollution levels
are particularly high, move physical activities indoors where the
air is filtered by an air conditioning system.
• Be vigilant about asthma management. People with asthma
should have adequate medication on hand and follow their
asthma management plans.
Know the day's UV Index... To find the Air Quality Index...
Visit EPA's UV Index Web Page
www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.htm
Use EPA's widget found on many web sites
to get the UVI for your ZIP
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