June 19th, 2017

Warm weather has finally arrived in Waterloo region and with it comes a reminder on sun safety. We believe in promoting sun safety through education and working with our community partners, such as Public Health.

Creating shaded spaces in our school yards and play areas is a key component of our Sun Safety and Shading Policy. Either natural shade created by trees or constructed shade provides relief from the sun. When possible, constructing shaded areas are taken into consideration when building new schools or additions. We review our other school sites often to make sure enough shade is available to our students.

When spending time outside and the UV index is 3 or higher, Public Health recommends using a combination of sun protection. These include wearing clothing to cover exposed skin, using sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and avoiding peak sun time from 11am-4pm.

Below is some information on the UV Index and more tips on staying sun safe from our partners at Public Health.

The UV Index

UV Index	Sun Protection Actions
0-2 Low	Minimal sun protection required. If outside more than one hour, wear sunglasses and sunscreen. reflections can nearly double UV strength.
3-5 Moderate	Take precautions. Cover up, wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen if outside for 30 minutes or more. Look for shade near midday.
6-7 High	Protection required. UV damages skin and can cause sunburn. reduce time in the sun between 11 am and 4 pm. Seek shade, cover up, wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
8-10 Very High	Extra protection required. Unprotected skin will be damaged and can burn quickly. Avoid the sun between 11 am and 4 pm. Seek shade, cover up, wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
11+ Extreme	Maximum protection required. Unprotected skin will be damaged and can burn in minutes. Avoid the sun between 11 am and 4 pm, cover up, wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.