Hot weather, clear skies, and extra leisure time in the summer mean that many people spend hours in the sun. Lengthy sun exposure can raise the risk for skin cancer if you don’t take steps to protect yourself.
1. The hours of the day when you are most at risk from the sun’s rays are:
___ A. 10:00 am–4:00 pm
___ B. 8:00 am–1:00 pm
___ C. 7:00 am–12:00 pm
___ D. None of the above
2. Which type of ultraviolet rays does the sun emit?
___ A. UVAB
___ B. UVBC
___ C. UVCD. UVA and UVBE
___ D. UVA, UVB, and UVC
3. The best way to protect yourself from the sun’s rays is:
___ A. Avoid the sun during peak hours
___ B. Wear protective clothing and a hat
___ C. Wear wraparound sunglasses
___ D. Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to 30
___ E. All of the above
4. Excessive exposure to UV rays has what detrimental effect on health?
___ A. It boosts the risk of skin cancer
___ B. It boosts the risk of lip cancer
___ C. It boosts the risk of cataracts
___ D. All of the above
5. The UV Index is:
___ A. A rating system for sunscreens
___ B. A forecast of UV radiation tied to the local weather forecast
___ C. A rating system for protective clothing
___ D. None of the above
6. What common medications can make you more sensitive to sun?
___ A. Ibuprofen
___ B. Doxycycline
___ C. Sulfa drugs
___ D. All of the above
7. The best type of sunscreen to use is:
___ A. Lotion
___ B. Gel
___ C. Spray
___ D. All of the above
8. Sunscreens work by:
___ A. Absorbing the sun’s rays
___ B. Reflecting the sun’s rays
___ C. Scattering the sun’s rays
___ D. All of the above
9. Which of these clothing choices offers the best protection and comfort from UV rays?
___ A. Jeans and T-shirt
___ B. Shorts and a tank top
___ C. Long pants of tightly woven fabric and a loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirt
10. If you work outdoors or otherwise spend a lot of time in the sun, which type of hat offers the best protection from UV rays?
___ A. Straw hat
___ B. Baseball cap
___ C. Canvas hat with a brim all the way around
___ D. Bike helmet
Scroll down for the answers:
1. The hours of the day when you are most at risk from the sun’s rays are:
The correct answer is A. 10:00 am–4:00 pm
This time frame applies to daylight saving time; in standard time, you should try to avoid the sun between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You should protect your skin whenever you are out in the sun, no matter what time of day or time of year, winter or summer. Protect yourself in any type of weather: The sun’s ultraviolet rays can reach the earth even on cloudy or hazy days. The rays also reflect off any surface, including water, cement, sand, and snow.
2. Which type of ultraviolet rays does the sun emit?
The correct answer is E. UVA, UVB, and UVC.
Ultraviolet rays are an invisible form of radiation streaming from the sun. There are three ranges of UV ray lengths: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA is the most abundant; this form can penetrate past the top layer of skin. Researchers believe that UVA can damage the body’s connective tissue, boosting a person’s risk for developing skin cancer. Much of the UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer in the earth’s atmosphere. The UVB rays that do reach your skin can be damaging, even though they don’t penetrate as deeply as UVA. UVC is very hazardous to the skin, but fortunately, all of these rays are absorbed by the ozone layer.
3. The best way to protect yourself from the sun’s rays is:
The correct answer is E. All of the above.
When possible, avoid outdoor activities during the middle of the day, when the sun’s rays are most intense. If you must be outdoors then, wear protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and wrap-around sunglasses that block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Wear sunscreen and lipscreen rated with at least SPF 15 to 30.
4. Excessive exposure to UV rays has what detrimental effect on health?
The correct answer is D. All of the above.
Exposure to UV rays is the key factor in the development of skin cancer. UV radiation also has been tied to the development of lip cancer (a form of skin cancer) and is associated with cataracts and other eye conditions. UV radiation also can lead to premature aging of the skin and abnormal changes in skin texture.
5. The UV Index is: B. A forecast of UV radiation tied to the local weather forecast.
The UV Index was developed in 1994 by the National Weather Service and the Environmental Protection Agency. It gives a forecast of the expected risk of exposure to UV rays and recommends what degree of caution you should take when outdoors. The range given now follows the Global Solar UV Index: from 1 (low risk of exposure) to 11 and higher (extreme risk of exposure). The UV Index takes into account clouds and other local conditions that affect the amount of UV radiation reaching the ground. You can usually find the UV Index on your local newspaper’s weather page.
6. What common medications can make you more sensitive to sun?
The correct answer is D. All of the above.
Chemicals that produce a photoreaction (reaction with exposure to UV light) are called photosensitizers. Medications and other products can cause photosensitivity. After exposure to UV radiation either from natural sunlight or an artificial source such as tanning booths, these photosensitizers cause chemical changes that increase a person’s sensitivity to light and can cause exaggerated sunburn-like skin conditions. It’s not clear whether sunscreens help protect against photosensitivity. The best protection is to avoid sun exposure, but health professionals still recommend using sunscreen and protective clothing if you have to go outside.
7. The best type of sunscreen to use is:
The correct answer is D. All of the above.
It doesn’t matter what form of sunscreen you use. What’s important is that it blocks both UVA and UVB rays – this is called broad spectrum – and has an SPF of at least 15 to 30. Special sunscreens are available for sensitive skin and for infants.
8. Sunscreens work by:
The correct answer is D. All of the above.
The physical and chemical parts of sunscreen interact with the UV rays to protect your skin. You should always use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 to 30. The higher the SPF number, the greater the protection. Even with a sunscreen, you should still limit the time you spend in the sun and take other protective measures, such as staying in the shade and wearing protective clothing, wrap-around sunglasses, and a broad-brimmed hat.
9. Which of these clothing choices offers the best protection and comfort from UV rays?
The correct answer is C. Long pants of tightly woven fabric and a loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirt.
To be protective, clothing must cover as much of your skin as possible. If wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt isn’t practical, at least wear a T-shirt and sunscreen of at least SPF 15 to 30. Dark-colored clothing appears to offer more protection than light-colored clothing. Dry clothes offer more protection than wet clothes. Certain brands of clothing have sun protection added to them. They aree labeled with UV protection factor ratings.
10. If you work outdoors or otherwise spend a lot of time in the sun, which type of hat offers the best protection from UV rays?
The correct answer is C. Canvas hat with a brim all the way around.
This type of hat provides shade for your face, ears, and back of your neck. A straw hat isn’t as good as a canvas hat, particularly if the straw hat has holes that let the sunlight through. If you wear a ball cap, cover up your ears and back of your neck or use a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 to 30.