Hot weather and strong sunlight can affect your body quickly, especially during sports, recess, field trips, or outdoor work. Sun safety matters because ultraviolet radiation can damage skin and eyes, while heat can lead to dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. Simple habits like drinking water, using sunscreen, wearing a hat, and taking shade breaks help students stay healthy and active.
Planning ahead is the best way to enjoy outdoor time safely.
Key Facts
- Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapply at least every 2 hours.
- Drink water before, during, and after outdoor activity, even if you do not feel thirsty.
- UV rays are strongest from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., so shade and protective clothing are especially important then.
- Dehydration risk increases when water lost through sweat is not replaced: water balance = water in - water out.
- Heat index combines air temperature and humidity to estimate how hot it feels to the body.
- Heat stroke is an emergency and may include confusion, fainting, very hot skin, or a body temperature near 104°F or 40°C.
Vocabulary
- Hydration
- Hydration is having enough water in the body for normal functions like sweating, circulation, and temperature control.
- Dehydration
- Dehydration happens when the body loses more fluid than it takes in.
- UV radiation
- UV radiation is invisible energy from the sun that can damage skin and eyes.
- Heat exhaustion
- Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness that can cause heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, and headache.
- Heat index
- Heat index is a measure of how hot the air feels when temperature and humidity are considered together.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting until you feel thirsty to drink water is a mistake because thirst can appear after dehydration has already started.
- Using sunscreen only once in the morning is a mistake because sunscreen can wear off with sweat, water, and time.
- Wearing dark, heavy clothing in extreme heat is a mistake because it can trap heat and make it harder for the body to cool down.
- Ignoring dizziness, confusion, or fainting is a mistake because these may be warning signs of a serious heat illness that needs quick help.
Practice Questions
- 1 A student applies sunscreen at 9:00 a.m. and stays outside all morning. If sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours, at what times should the student reapply it before 1:00 p.m.?
- 2 A coach plans a 90-minute practice and asks each student to drink 250 mL of water every 30 minutes. How many milliliters of water should one student drink during practice?
- 3 A student is going to play outside on a hot, sunny afternoon. Explain three choices that would lower the risk of sunburn, overheating, and dehydration.