Chemistry can help young athletes hit the ground running in more ways than you might think. Chemistry creates many of the products and gear that can help keep kids safe as they head back to school and back to their favorite athletic activities – whether it’s track, gymnastics, swimming, soccer or other sports.

Below are a few examples of how chemical ingredients in sporting products may help athletes win, on and off the playing field:

Buzz off bugs:

As fall begins, pests like mosquitoes, biting flies, chiggers and gnats can still be irritants for young athletes. DEET, Icaridin, Citrioldiol and IR3535 are the four most common compounds approved in the U.S. as insect repellent ingredients. Each compound has slightly different characteristics, but they all work in similar ways by producing an odor that repels certain annoying insects. Of these, DEET is one of the most popular insect repellent ingredients—an estimated 30 percent of Americans use DEET products every year.

What you need to know about insect repellents and safety:

• According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DEET products used as directed should not be harmful, although in rare cases using DEET products can cause skin irritation.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that the “normal use of DEET does not present a health concern to the general population, including children.”
• For the safe and effective use of pesticide products, read and follow label instructions.

Read the CDC’s fact sheet on DEET.

Keep using sunscreen:

Just because summer is winding down doesn’t mean kids should skimp on sunscreen. To protect skin from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays, health experts agree that sunscreen use – in all four seasons – is important. Sunscreens often include the active ingredients titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which protect skin by deflecting the sun’s rays. Titanium dioxide is often a primary ingredient in sunscreen because the compound works well as a UV filtering ingredient.

What you need to know about sunscreen and safety:

• The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and numerous federal agencies, health experts and organizations agree sunscreen is safe to use and can reduce the risk of skin cancer.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that “the risk of not using sunscreen is much greater than any potential risk posed by sunscreen ingredients.”
• Before an ingredient can be used in sunscreen, it must be approved by the FDA. Currently, FDA has approved 17 ingredients for use in sunscreen, including oxybenzone, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.

Play it safe:

Plastic helmets and other sports gear use innovative materials to help protect kids from injury on the playing fields. Helmet linings made from expanded polystyrene in different layers and densities enable helmets to absorb impact. The helmet’s shell – often made with polycarbonate – is durable and shatter resistant, but still lightweight, adding important protection for student athletes.

What you need to know about sports equipment and safety:

• The CDC suggests that kids and teens wear the right protective equipment for their sports and recreational activities. Ask a qualified coach or physical education teacher about the best types of safety gear for a particular sport.
• According to the CDC, concussions can occur in any sport or recreation activity, even if your child is wearing protective gear, so it’s important to learn the warning signs. Learn about concussion signs and symptoms and what to do if a concussion occurs here.
• Learn more about the best types of helmets for different types of activities on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.

Want more back to school chemistry? Learn six ways chemistry helps kids get back to school.