 We all like the sun. All of us have our bank of memories of sunny beach days, fishing and surfing, snowmobiling or skiing vacations, afternoon picnics and lounging by the pool.
While the sun is central to our lives, our planet, and the existence of life, it can also be deadly. Here are the facts: UV rays are a natural part of sunlight. These rays are invisible. Basically, they are natural “radiation.” They penetrate the skin and change the molecular structure of skin cells. Have you ever had a tan or sunburn? If so, you have experienced UV damage. Excessive UV rays can help cause or accelerate skin cancer indirectly by weakening the immune mechanisms in the skin, as well as the rest of the body. There are three types of UV rays: Ultraviolet A (UVA), Ultraviolet B (UVB) and Ultraviolet C (UVC). UVB rays are less abundant on the earth’s surface because a significant portion of the rays have been absorbed by the ozone layer. The same applies for UVC rays. That leaves UVA rays as the most prevalent and most damaging of the UV rays. Clouds don’t help either. Many people believe that clouds can offer protection on sunny days from UV damage. Listen: up to 80% of UV rays shine right through the clouds! That’s not much protection! The ozone layer shields the Earth from harmful UV radiation. Since the ozone layer has been sharply depleted within the last 50 years, the layer isn’t as protective as it once was. More UV rays are getting through, causing more damage. Sun Facts:
- Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. One in five Americans develop skin cancer every year.
- One American dies of skin cancer every hour.
- Up to 80% of total lifetime sun exposure typically occurs before the age of 18.
Now, the Good News  It’s not hopeless! There are things you can do to help protect your family and yourself from sun damage and skin cancer.
Shade
Get under some shade and stay there. Umbrellas, shade sails, trees — whatever provides shade is worth its weight in gold. Manufacturers of shade protection fabric have created specially formulated cloth that keeps out up to 90% of dangerous UV rays. Not only does this type of product provide skin protection, but it also keeps the area under the shade cloth up to 10° cooler!
When considering UV damage, pay particular attention to children. As noted above, most of the cumulative effects of UV damage will occur before the age of 18. The National Association of School Boards of Education have implemented procedures and Sun Safety Topics for schools and daycares to provide shady places for children to play as well as instruction of correct and frequent sunscreen application.
Sunscreen
Need we say more? Don’t leave home without it! Use at least a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 for everyday activities. Re-apply every two hours and more frequently if you are swimming or engaging in physical activities that increase sweating. Try to use waterproof sunscreen whenever possible. Don’t forget sunscreen when in the snow either! Just because it isn’t hot doesn’t mean you can’t get burned. Snow can act as a mirror, actually increasing the damage by reflection.
When you can, try to stay indoors between the hours of 10am to 4pm. These are times when the sun’s rays are at their peak and most dangerous. Wear hats and sunglasses. For one thing, they can make you look really cool, and secondly, they reduce the cumulative effects of UV rays on your eyes and face. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the National Weather Service have created a “UV Index” that helps predicts the next day’s UV levels on a scale of 1 to 11+. The index takes into account clouds and other local weather conditions in your specific area that affects the amount of UV radiation actually hitting the earth in your locale. Use of this index can help you determine appropriate sun-protective activities for the next day. Check out their website daily for forecasts: http://www.epa.gov/docs/sunwise/uvindex.html. We at OutdoorDecor.com want you to enjoy the great outdoors, and to do it safely. We want your family safe, happy and healthy! Here are some other websites we think you may find helpful. http://www.webmd.com – Web MD
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/ - American Cancer Society
http://www.cdc.gov/ - Centers for Disease Control
Research taken from the following sources: American Academy of Family Physicians. “Skin Cancer: Reduce Your Risk With 'Safe Sun' Guidelines.” 1998 Minister of Canadian Health. The Canadian Cancer Society. “It’s Your Health”. Updated February 2004 National Association of State School Boards of Education. “Policies to Promote Sun Safety and Prevent Skin Cancer.” May 2006 National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. “Preventing America’s Most Common Cancer.” May 15, 2006
Copyright 2006 www.OutdoorDecor.com
Kay Stone, OutdoorDecor.com Staff Writer
|
