UV Index and Sun Protection

Children's UV Index Sun Awareness Program

We all love to be outdoors in the sunshine, and being outdoors is great for our mental and physical health. There are, however, risks, and one of these is exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Exposure to UV radiation has been recognized to increase the chances of developing skin cancers, cataracts, and is also responsible for weakening the immune system. These risks increase in relationship to our exposure to the sun - the greater the exposure, the greater the chances for damage to the skin, eyes and immune system. Our exposure to UV radiation has increased due to changes in our lifestyle and to depletion of the ozone layer.

It is estimated that more than 72,000 new cases of skin cancers were diagnosed across Canada in 2002 and over 820 people died from a particular kind of skin cancer known as melanoma. Skin cancers take a long time to develop - anywhere from 10 to 30 years - so early prevention is very important. The probability of developing cataracts increases with age and might be enhanced by exposure to UV radiation. Limiting the amount of UV radiation our eyes are exposed to during our lifetime might reduce the development of cataracts.

Although exposure to ultraviolet radiation does not always result in skin cancer or cataracts, it does have an immediate effect on the immune system, potentially weakening the body's ability to destroy cancerous cells and other disease-causing agents. Sun protection is therefore important to our overall physical health.

UVB damage is cumulative. However, diligent use of sunscreens during the first 18 years of life could reduce the lifetime incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers by 78%. Helping our youth protect themselves from the sun now will go a long way toward preventing serious health problems later in their lives.

In 1998, Environment Canada in partnership with Health Canada started the UV Index Sun Awareness Program. The program teaches students under the age of 14 about the UV Index and how to use it to minimize the risk to their health from solar ultraviolet radiation. In 2001, the UV Index Sun Awareness Program was expanded to include the Sun Savvy School Club. As part of the club, teachers can order a free UV Index resource kit from the Meteorological Service of Canada. Included in the kit is a UV meter with which students can measure UV radiation in their school environment and share that information on the Internet.

Does the program work? See the comments we have received from teachers across Canada!

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