Some Sun Safety Trivia Quiz

Answer: sun protection factor

SPF stands for "sun protection factor". It measures how well the sunscreen blocks harmful UVB rays from the sun that cause sunburn, skin damage, and skin cancer. This SPF does not measure how well the sunscreen prevents damage from UVA rays, however.

Answer: 15 or 30

Most experts recommend that the SPF be only 15 or 30. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, and an SPF of 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays. However, a sunscreen with an SPF of 50 provides only a minimal increase of blocking 98% of UVB rays. You might wonder why you shouldn't just go ahead and buy the 50 for more protection, even if that protection is only 1% more. Experts say that people with sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher tend to apply less of it or fail to reapply more when it is needed. For ANY sunscreen to be completely effective, a person needs to apply two tablespoons (about the size of a golf ball) to all areas of your body that are exposed to the sun and to reapply the sunscreen after two hours or after swimming or sweating. Applying only one tablespoon of sunscreen with an SPF of 30 reduces the protection from 97% to 5.5%!

Answer: thirty minutes

Most experts recommend waiting at least thirty minutes before going out into the sun after applying sunscreen so that you experience the full protectiveness of the sunscreen. Thirty minutes is a good amount of time for your skin to absorb the elements that create a protective barrier in and on your skin.

Answer: bright, lighweight, but tightly woven long-sleeved shirts and pants

You will want to wear long sleeves and pants to cover fully any of your exposed skin; however, to prevent overheating, you should wear materials that are lightweight. Colors are also important. Many have for a long time believed you should wear light colors or even white in the summer because clothing with these colors does not make you as hot.

More visible sunlight is reflected by these colors. Unfortunately, however, when lightly colored clothes become wet from sweat or playing in and around water, the clothing can allow radiation from the sun to pass straight through to your skin.

Answer: Yes

You should wear a dark or brightly colored hat with a bib that shades your face. You should also consider wearing sunglasses with UV protection to prevent damage to your eyes. You might consider applying sunscreen to your ear lobes because they may not be covered by the hat you're wearing. If you don't wear a hat, be sure to apply sunscreen to the part in your hair.

The skin of your scalp can burn where it is exposed because of the part line in your hair. Certainly, you want to apply sunscreen to your face. Your forehead, your cheeks, your nose, and your chin are all highly susceptible to burning. Finally, you should wear lip balm with UV protection, for lips can burn too.

Answer: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

If you go outside into the sunlight between ten in the morning and four in the afternoon, you should limit the amount of time you are outside. These times are when the sun's rays are at their strongest. Of course, some of this timeline can be adjusted the closer you live to one of the earth's poles. Don't be misled by how cool or cloudy the day may be.

The sun's UV rays are still reaching the earth even on days that don't feel hot or on days when the skies seem overcast with clouds. Even shady places can be tricky if the sun's rays are being reflected to where you are.

Answer: some antibiotics and acne medication

Some antibiotics and acne medications make a person more sensitive to the sun or the cause what is called photosensitivity. Some chemicals in these medications make the skin cells more likely to experience sunburn or damage from the sun's rays.

Answer: before going out to play, while playing, and after being outside

Many experts recommend drinking a bottle of water an hour or two before going out into the heat, then drinking a few ounces of water every twenty minutes while outside in the heat, and then drinking a bottle after coming inside. While many are tempted to drink ice-cold water after exercise in the heat, most recommend drinking it at room temperature or maybe slightly cooler than room temperature because many won't drink all the water they should if the water is too cold to swallow. Kids' bodies are often a greater risk of overheating than are adults' bodies, so kids should definitely make certain they take care to stay cool and hydrated.

Answer: true

Juicy vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes, apples, oranges, and watermelon, have a lot of water, and they also contain minerals, such as potassium, that are good for staying healthy when getting hot. While sodas also contain water and are flavorful, they contain a great amount of sugar or corn syrup, which is not healthy, and even those with sugar substitutes may still contain caffeine, which is a diuretic. Diuretics ultimately cause your body to remove water through more frequent urination. Even sports drinks and many fruit juices contain a lot of sugar and should be used only as a last resort.

Answer: a headache, very heavy sweating, and feelings of nausea, confusion, and dizziness

When the body loses much of its water from sweating and the moisture on the skin from all of that sweat can no longer keep the body cool, then the body begins to overheat. At this point, a person can suffer heat exhaustion and will begin to experience the symptoms listed above: a headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, and very heavy sweating as well as weakness and a rapid heartbeat. If you think you are experiencing these symptoms, you should get out of the heat immediately. If you cannot find an air-conditioned room or house, then at least try to find a shady place. Loosen your clothing and drink plenty of water (not soda). If you can, take a cool shower or bath. If your symptoms don't get better in thirty minutes, you might need to see a doctor.

Heat exhaustion can cause heatstroke, which can be very dangerous or even fatal. Heatstroke occurs when the body's temperature rises above 104 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point the skin may become flushed or red, and it will feel dry because the body can no longer sweat. Seizures may also begin to occur, and many of the other symptoms of heat exhaustion, such as a headache and nausea, will intensify.