As you know, sun safety has become an integral part of daily living today. Skin cancer rates are rising and exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun is a leading contributor. Shade is the best solution, and can be provided by trees, buildings and our shade structures. Regardless of the source, insist that outdoor areas you enjoy are shaded.
The sun's ultraviolet rays stimulate skin cells to produce a dark pigment called melanin. All skins have the same number of melanin-producing cells (melanocytes), but some produce more melanin than others. Fair skinned people, for example, produce less melanin than dark skinned people, which results in their skin being easily burnt by the sun. People with freckles also need to take extra care in the sun. Freckles are a sign of sun-sensitive skin that has received a lot of UV radiation and indicates an inability to produce pigment evenly.
When the sun's UV rays penetrate the skin, they injure living cells, causing them to swell and the skin to burn. In an effort to prevent further injury, skin develops a tan, or darkening of the skin, which is the body's attempt to prevent further injury against the harshness of the sun. A suntan is not a sign of good health; it is a sign that the skin has received enough UV radiation to be damaged. A tan is literally skin damage that builds up, year after year, tan after tan.
Overexposure to the sun causes the skin to age prematurely, and it may become wrinkled, less elastic, freckled, dry and leathery to the touch. Once this happens, no lotion or potion can reverse the process. The attraction of a tan diminishes when you consider that more and more people in their teens and 20s are developing leathery, lined skin years before their time. Remember a tan does not protect or prevent skin cancer. In fact, studies have shown that people who have a history of sunburn have a high skin cancer risk even if they tan easily.
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Avoid Tanning Salons
There is no safe way to tan. Regardless of the claims that tanning booths and beds offer a safer tan, exposure to this form of artificial tanning can cause cataracts or eye damage, sunburns, skin cancer and premature aging of the skin. According to the National Cancer Institute, women who use tanning booths or beds more than once a month are 55 percent more likely to develop malignant melanoma. The tanning properties of tanning beds come from their ultraviolet radiation, which is found in the sun's rays. So it makes perfect sense that tanning beds, like the sun, increase skin cancer risk. In fact, UV light received in a tanning salon may be two to three times more than the UV light received from the sun on Earth.
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- Approximately 1 out of every 5 children in the United States will grow up to have some form of skin cancer.
- Just one blistering sunburn before the age of 18 may double the risk of eventually developing melanoma (a life threatening type of skin cancer) later in life.
- Roughly 80% of a person's total lifetime UV exposure occurs in the first 18 years of life.
- Babies, children and the elderly are highly sensitive to UV radiation and it can take less than 10 minutes for their unprotected skin to sunburn.
- Skin cancer is by far the most common cancer in the United States with more than one million new cases diagnosed each year.
- Over 90% of skin cancers can be prevented by staying safe in the sun. Staying in the shade is one of the best ways to be safe in the sun.
- Deterioration of the earth's ozone layer has increased levels of ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth's surface and thereby increasing the risk of developing skin cancer.
When the body is unable to cool itself by sweating, several heat-induced illnesses such as heat stress or heat exhaustion and the more severe heat stroke can occur, and can result in death. Activities involving high air temperatures, radiant heat sources, high humidity, limited air movement, direct physical contact with hot objects, or strenuous physical exercise have a high potential for inducing heat stress in people engaged in such activities.
Heat stress is the buildup of heat in the body, generated by the muscles during work, as a result of warm and hot environments. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke result when the body is subjected to more heat than it can cope with.
When the body becomes overheated, less blood goes to the active muscles, the brain, and other internal organs. People get weaker, become tired sooner, and may be less alert, less able to use good judgment, and less able to do their jobs well. As strain from heat becomes more severe, there can be a rapid rise in body temperature and heart rate. A person may not realize that this is happening because there is no pain. Mental performance can be affected with an increase in body temperature; an extreme increase in body temperature can result in serious illness or death. During hot weather, heat illness may be an underlying cause of other types of injuries, such as heart attacks on the job, falls, and equipment accidents arising from poor judgment.
Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and monitor yourself and those around you. Block out direct sun, stay in the shade and use cooling fans or air-conditioning. Rest regularly and drink lots of water, about 1 cup every 15 minutes. Wear lightweight, light colored, loose-fitting clothes. Avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks, and heavy meals. Providing shade to prevent heat stress will:
- Protect health. Heat illness is preventable. When less severe forms occur, they can be treated before they become life-threatening.
- Improve safety. Workers with even mild effects of heat illness are more likely to have accidents and use poor judgment.
- Increase productivity. People work slower and less efficiently when they are under too much strain from heat.
Did you know that the sun can cause heat stress in your animals? Temperatures, humidity, and solar heat cause discomfort in livestock and other animals kept outside. Heat stress can cause a decrease in birth and growth rates among pigs and can cause as much as a 30% decline in the milk production of cows. Providing shade is one method of reducing heat stress for these animals. Adding shade to pastures and feed lots is an inexpensive and easy way to encourage regular eating patterns and help optimize production. Shade keeps your animals cooler and gives them a way to escape from the harmful effects of prolonged heat from the sun.
- Stay in the shade whenever possible. The sun's rays are the strongest between the hours of 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. If your shadow is shorter than you are, you're likely to burn.
- Whatever your skin type, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Broad spectrum sunscreens block out ultraviolet radiation. Apply sunscreen 30 to 60 minutes before going out in the sun - it takes 30 minutes for sunscreen to bind strongly to the skin. It's important that your skin is dry before you apply sunscreen. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours or more frequently if you have been swimming, working or exercising outdoors or if you live in a humid climate.
- Wear protective, tightly woven clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt and pants, along with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses when outdoors.
- Remember, you don't have to be in direct sunlight to get sun damage. Ultraviolet rays can pass though water, clouds and fog, even on overcast days. They are also reflected by snow, sand and bright sky, increasing exposure.
- Because skin damage is cumulative, teaching children sensible sun habits will reduce the risk of skin cancer later in life.
Fresh air and exercise are essential to the healthy development of young children. Children who regularly spend time running, jumping and playing outdoors are generally more fit and have a lower risk of childhood obesity. In order for children to safely enjoy the outdoors, they must avoid overexposure to the sun. Too many ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause serious health problems such as skin cancer; older looking skin and other skin problems; cataracts and other eye damage; and weakening of the immune system.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), approximately 1 out of every 5 children in the United States will grow up to have some form of skin cancer. One blistering sunburn can double a child's lifetime risk of developing skin cancer. Most children accumulate between 50% and 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18, so it's important to teach children how to enjoy safe fun in the sun.
Children's chances of developing skin cancer can be greatly reduced by educating them on sun protection and practicing good sun safe habits at a young age. The Sun Safety Alliance recommends the following simple guidelines to keep children safe under the sun:
- Schedule children's outdoor playtime to avoid sun exposure during the peak UV hours of 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM (4:00 during summer months). Remember, UV rays are also present on cloudy days.
- Pay attention to the UV and Heat Indexes for your area. During high UV or heat days, be especially sun-safe or consider alternate indoor activity so children can stay cool while playing and exercising. You may also pay attention to pollen counts and air quality index (urban areas).
- Provide plenty of shade on playgrounds. Plant trees or use shade structures around your play area. Play games with children in the shadow of the building.
- Avoid direct sun exposure for infants.
- Encourage parents to dress children in cool, lightweight clothing. Loose-fitting shirts with sleeves and capris or long pants provide more sun protection than tank tops and shorts.
- Make sure every child has a hat with a wide brim that shades the ears and neck. Let each child decorate a big floppy hat that he or she can wear each day.
- Provide each child with sunglasses labeled "100% UV protection." Polycarbonate or impact-resistant lenses are safest. Teach children to wear sunglasses when they are outdoors, and to store their sunglasses properly after playtime.
- Children have tender skin and can easily become sunburned. It is recommended that you apply sunscreen labeled SPF 30 to all areas of exposed skin. Follow the directions on the sunscreen and apply liberally and reapply every two hours. Remember, check your state and local guidelines about sunscreen use in childcare.
- Encourage children to drink plenty of water.
- Be a role model! These recommendations apply to both children and adults!
Visit the Sun Safety Alliance at www.sunsafetyalliance.org to learn more about children and sun safety.
Beneficial Skin Cancer Links
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Beneficial Heat Stress Links
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