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from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal UclickProtect Your Health

Be Safe in the Sun

Are you enjoying time away from school, playing outside? You may have been to the swimming pool or park this summer or spent time on baseball fields. If you’ve been out in the hot summer sun, your skin may have turned red or brown where the sun’s rays touched it. Sunshine helps our bodies produce vitamin D, and experts say sunlight makes our moods happier. But exposure to the sun’s rays can also damage our skin and cause some health problems. This week, The Mini Page learns more about being safe in the sun from experts at the Environmental Protection Agency’s SunWise Program.

What is UV light? Ultraviolet, or UV, radiation comes from the sun. Our eyes can’t see this light, but these are the rays that can burn our skin when we’re in the sun too long. There are several types of UV radiation, but only UVA and UVB rays reach the surface of the Earth. Have you ever heard someone announce the UV Index on the news or weather report? The index is a prediction of the intensity level of UV light in a certain region. For example, if it’s cloudy in your city today, the UV Index will be lower than in another town where the sun is shining. The UV Index is a scale from 1 to 11+, where 1 represents a slight risk of too much exposure to the sun, and 11+ tells us that the risk is very high.

Protecting us on Earth The Earth has a protective layer of gas called ozone surrounding it. It acts like a screen to help shield us from the sun’s damaging rays by filtering them before they reach the

surface of the planet. But the ozone layer has been damaged by some chemicals that have been released into the air over many years. In some parts of the world, the ozone layer has become thinner.

Beginning in the 1980s, many of the world’s governments agreed to limit the use of chemicals that hurt the ozone layer. It will naturally repair itself over time. But remember, the ozone layer only acts as a filter for ultraviolet radiation. The damaging rays still reach us on Earth.

image courtesy U.S. EPA

from The Mini Page © 2013 Universal Uclick

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Skin Cancer

Words that remind us of sun safety are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: BURN, CANCER, DAMAGE, EARTH, EXPOSURE, EYES, HEALTH, INDEX, LAYER, OZONE, PALE, PROTECT, RADIATION, RAYS, RISK, SAFE, SKIN, SUMMER, SUN, SUNSCREEN, TAN, TUMOR, ULTRAVIOLET.

Sun Safety try ’n’find

Don’T GET BURnED!

K W N J E H S N R A Y S E Y E S S L O D R T U R E C N A C N V U I P I A U L N E I T A V O P S N R B T M S A S M N Q T Z H W E O N U A A O E C M D M O T S L T I M R I G P H R U E C R A A E K O Y N D E X K E S X A F P C S R R E Y A L E J E O E E H T E L O I V A R T L U N


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ready resourcesfrom The Mini Page © 2013 Universal Uclick

The Mini Page provides ideas for websites, books or other resources that will help you learn more about this week’s topics.On the Web:• kidshealth.org/kid/watch/out/summer_safety.html#• epa.gov/sunwise/kids/index.htmlAt the library: • “Max and Mila at the Beach: A Sun Safety Guide for Kids” by Amalyn Persohn Martin • “Invisible Exposure: The Science of Ultraviolet Rays” by Darlene R. Stille

Different types of cancer Doctors treat different types of skin cancer. Some can be removed before they really get growing. The most serious types of skin cancer can spread to other parts of the body and cause death. Other health problems Too much sun can also cause eye damage, and it can make a person’s immune system weaker.

Skin cancer If you’ve ever had a sunburn, you know that it stings and makes you uncomfortable for a few hours, or even a few days. But there are longer-lasting effects of too much sun that are much more dangerous. About half of all cancers in the United States are skin cancers. One in every five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.What is cancer? Cancer is a disease caused when cells in a person’s body sort of go out of control. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells won’t stop growing and spreading. Many times, the cells group together to form tumors(TOO-mers). Then that group of cancer cells destroys the healthy cells around it, which may make the person very sick. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body and attack there.

Skin and sun Exposure to ultraviolet light is the biggest risk factor for skin cancer. But we can easily prevent damage to our skin from the sun and lower our chances of getting skin cancer. Researchers believe that getting sunburns in childhood increases a person’s risk of having skin cancer. So it’s important to take care of your skin now and throughout your life.

A doctor examines a spot on a man’s back to see if it might be skin cancer.

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Rookie Cookie’s RecipeCinnamon Graham Treats

You’ll need:• 10 to 12 whole cinnamon graham

crackers (1 package from box)• 1/2 cup margarine• 1/4 cup brown sugarWhat to do:1. Break graham crackers in half; arrange with edges touching in a jelly

roll pan.2. Melt margarine in separate pan over medium heat. Stir in sugars,

cinnamon and pecans.3. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently.4. Pour sticky mixture evenly over graham crackers.5. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 12 minutes.6. Cool before serving.You will need an adult’s help with this recipe.


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Meet Zoe Saldana Zoe Saldana stars as Nyota Uhura in the movie “Star Trek Into Darkness.” She had the same role in the 2009 “Star Trek” movie, and she is the voice of Uhura in the “Star Trek” video game. Zoe has acted in many movies, including “Avatar,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” and “Center Stage.” She has also appeared in TV shows and commercials.

Zoe Yadira Saldana Nazario, who turns 35 this week, was born in Passaic, N.J., and grew up in New York City and the Dominican Republic. She took ballet and other dance at a special dance school in the Dominican Republic. Her family moved back to New York when she was 17, and she began performing with a theater troupe that presented positive messages to teens. She also acted in other plays in New York. Zoe speaks Spanish as well as English. She supports the charity FINCA International, which gives small loans to poor people, especially women, throughout the world.


Sam: Why is the sun lighter than the planet Earth?

Sue: Because it rises every morning!

Simon: What would we call Frosty the Snowman if he had a sunburn?

Suki: A puddle!

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All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category?

Seth: How are the sun and moon alike?Sawyer: They both end in “n”!

Mini Spy . . .Mini Spy and her friends are always careful to use lots of sunscreen protection on vacation. See if you can find:• sea horse • key • caterpillar • pencil• kite • ring • number 3 • turtle • word MINI• letter A • doughnut • sailboat • tooth


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• 1/4 cup white sugar• 1 teaspoon cinnamon• 1 cup pecans, chopped


Supersport: Marcus HolmanHeight: 5-11 Birthdate: 5-2-91Weight: 185 Hometown: Baltimore, Md. Strolling around the University of North Carolina campus, Marcus Holman looks like a typical college student. On the lacrosse field, his image changes. He becomes a “Masked Marvel,” darting, dashing and wielding a big stick. A senior attackman and team captain, Holman was in

attack mode all season while leading the ACC champs to a top 5 ranking going into the NCAA tournament. Once again he led Carolina with 74 points on 36 goals and 38 assists. Holman, whose father is an assistant UNC coach, also was an honor student who majored in communication studies and graduated from the Leadership Academy Veterans Leadership Program. Simply put, Holman’s a leader whose college lacrosse career was capped with multiple individual honors.

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Protect Yourself

The Mini Page StaffBetty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist

Staying safe Even though we think of summer as the sunniest time of the year, the sun’s rays strike us all year long. If you plan to be out in the sun for any length of time, use sunscreen. People who need to be even more careful about sun exposure are those who have: • pale skin • blond, red or light brown hair • a family member who has had skin cancer. But skin protection is important for everyone. The Environmental Protection Agency advises people to: • Limit time in the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. • Wear clothing that covers the skin — long-sleeved shirts, pants and broad-brimmed hats. • Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours.What is SPF? Most sunscreens are labeled with an SPF number. This stands for Sun Protection Factor. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that people use sunscreens with SPF 15 or higher. (SPF 15 means that you can stay out in the sun without burning 15 times longer than you could without protection. A higher SPF number means the sunscreen has a higher level of protection.) Experts also recommend a sunscreen that protects against “broad-spectrum” radiation (both UVA and UVB rays).

Inside fun When the sun is strongest, don’t forget about all the fun you can have indoors. Here are some ideas for keeping your cool during the sunniest part of the day: • Visit the library. Most libraries have many summer programs for kids. Or you can just browse for a good book and find a cool place to read. • Take a trip to a cool museum. Explore the exhibits, go on a tour, or take a class for kids. • Contact your fire department and arrange a tour for you and your friends. • Make cookies and a big jug of lemonade. • See a movie.

Mini Skin Quiz-a-Roonie Can you correctly match these quizzical questions and answers about skin safety?1. What is the largest organ of

the body?

2. What animal uses mud as sunscreen?

3. When should you apply sunscreen?

4. What time of day has the most UV rays reaching the ground?

5. What reflective surfaces must you be careful of while outdoors?

6. What animal has natural built-in protection like a hat?

A. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

B. 20 minutes before going outdoors

C. Sand, water and snow

D. The skin

E. The bumps over a camel’s eyes act like a hat.

F. Pigs

Answers: 1-D, 2-F, 3-B, 4-A, 5-C, 6-E.

Bowling is a cool indoor activity that you can do during the sunniest hours of the day.

The Mini Page thanks Molly Hooven and Latosha Thomas at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for help with this issue.

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The EPA suggests an easy way to remember to take care of your skin: • SLIP on a shirt. • SLOP on sunscreen. • SLAP on a hat. • WRAP on sunglasses. • SEEK shade.

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