Stay Safe In The Sun And The Surf This Summer

Independence Day weekend has arrived, and people are heading outdoors to enjoy the summer weather. But anyone planning activities that that involve any lengthy exposure to the sun’s powerful rays should take precautions because those rays can severely damage one’s skin.

Health statistics point to skin cancer as the most common form of cancer in the United States, with 3.5 million cases in more than two million people diagnosed annually. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the following prevention tips:

1. Seek the shade, especially between 10 am and 4 pm when the sun is strongest. An extra general rule is the “shadow rule.” If your shadow is shorter than you are, ultraviolet (UV) exposure is high; if your shadow is longer, the UV exposure is lower.

2. Do not burn. Sunburns are serious and should be avoided at all costs. A person’s risk for skin cancer doubles if he or she had had five or more sunburns at any point in life. Not only can they significantly increase your chances of getting skin cancer, but severe burns can make you ill. For severe burns you should see your doctor.

3. Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths. Ultraviolet radiation from tanning machines is cancer-causing to humans. Indoor UV tanners are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never tanned indoors. Additionally, the more time a person has spent tanning indoors, the higher the risk.

4. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For proper UVB protection The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using SPF 30 when spending extended time outdoors. For effective UVA protection, select products that also contain some combination of avobenzone, oxybenzone, mexoryl, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide.

5. Apply one ounce (two tablespoons) of sunscreen to all exposed areas, 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating. This means that a six-ounce bottle of sunscreen offers two full days of sun protection for prolonged outdoor activity.

6. Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. Clothing can be your most effective form of sun protection, so make the most of it with densely woven and bright- or dark-colored fabrics, which offers the best defense. The more skin you cover, the better, so choose long sleeves and long pants whenever possible.

7. Keep newborns out of the sun. Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of 6 months. Children are extremely vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation. Just one severe sunburn in childhood doubles the chances of developing melanoma later in life.

8. Examine your skin from head-to-toe every month. While self-exams should not replace the important annual skin exam performed by a physician, they offer the best chance of detecting the early warning signs of skin cancer. If you notice any change in an existing mole or discover a new one that looks suspicious, see a physician immediately. To find out more about how to spot a skin cancer and for information on self-exams, visit www.SkinCancer.org/selfexamination.

9. See your physician every year for a professional skin exam. You can also check www.SkinCancer.org/tour to see if The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Road to Healthy Skin Tour is coming to your area. The tour, presented by Aveeno and Rite Aid, provides free, full-body skin exams by local dermatologists.

The Skin Cancer Foundation is committed to educating the public and medical professionals about sun safety. As leaders in the fight against skin cancer, the foundation is the only global organization solely devoted to the prevention, detection, and treatment of skin cancer. For more information, visit www.skincancer.org.

Take Steps To Prevent Recreational Water Illness

HARTFORD — The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) encourages Connecticut residents to adopt healthy swimming behaviors, including ways to prevent recreational water illnesses (RWIs).

“Swimming is a wonderful way to enjoy the warm weather and exercise,” said DPH Commissioner J. Robert Galvin, MD. “Whether you’re enjoying some of Connecticut’s beautiful shoreline or relaxing in a swimming pool, it’s important that people enjoy the water safely.”

RWIs are caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in mists or aerosols of, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, water parks, hot tubs, interactive fountains, water play areas, lakes, rivers, or oceans.

Having the right disinfectant and pH levels in recreational water is essential to stopping the spread of germs that cause RWIs. Although local health department inspectors check to make sure these levels are right, pools cannot be checked every day.

To help ensure a healthy swimming experience every time, the DPH encourages swimmers to follow the Triple A’s of Healthy Swimming: Awareness, Action, and Advocacy.

Awareness

*Visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming

*Learn how to protect yourself and others from RWIs and follow the Six Steps for Healthy Swimming (listed below)

Action

*Ask the pool operator about chlorine and pH levels and request information on the latest pool inspection

Advocacy

*Swimmers should avoid swallowing the water that they are swimming in.

*To help keep the water safe for swimming, steps should be taken to prevent fecal matter from getting into the swimming water.

*Educate other swimmers about RWIs to promote healthy swimming — this includes not swimming when you are sick, showering before swimming, washing your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers, and taking children on bathroom breaks and checking diapers often.

*Always remember to never swim alone and always supervise children both in and around the water.

For more information, visit the Connecticut Department of Public Health website at www.ct.gov/dph

To contact the department, visit the website or call 860-509-7270.