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Staying Safe in the Summer Sun COLUMBUS – Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) today released the following editorial letter to the editor: “While summer won't officially arrive for a couple more weeks, the season is in full swing. The days are getting longer and warmer. Memorial Day is past. School is letting out. Families are planning their vacations. For our kids, the summer is three months of bliss. No homework or major responsibilities. Just time to have fun with friends and pick up a part-time summer job. And, of course, get a tan. The obvious way to get a suntan is to spend time in the sun. Yet while the sun may feel good and give us a temporary "summer glow," it's important to remember that the sun's rays can be very dangerous. Most people would be shocked to learn that skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, accounting for nearly half of all cancers in the U.S. That’s more than prostate, breast, lung, colon, uterus, ovarian, and pancreatic cancer combined. And the number of skin cancers has been on the rise steadily for the past 30 years. While risk factors for skin cancer include a fair complexion, family history, and multiple or atypical moles, the most frequent cause of skin cancer is unprotected or excessive exposure to UV rays, including artificial sources such as tanning beds. Because skin cancer typically doesn’t appear until after age 50, many young people don’t give a fleeting thought about the sun's damaging effects. As parents, we have an easy opportunity to protect the health and well-being of our kids by taking a simple proactive approach to their exposure. The best way to prevent skin cancer is to keep kids indoors when the sun's rays are at their strongest, typically during the midday hours. When they are outside, sunblock is important. Dermatologists recommend an SPF of 15 or more. Make sure your kids reapply it every two hours if they are playing a sport or participating in some other activity that causes them to sweat. And if they’re swimming, they should reapply sunblock as soon as they come out of the water. Of course, the best protection from the sun is to wear clothing that protects as much skin as possible and a hat to cover the face. For years, we didn't know of the harmful affects of the sun's rays. Many of the baby boomer generation spent too much time in the sun before they learned how dangerous it could be. For them, the key is to identify skin cancer as early as possible. But the good news for today's young people is that we know how serious excessive and unprotected exposure to the sun can be. Most importantly, we know how skin cancer can be prevented. So next time you hear or read sun safety tips, take them seriously. The harrowing statistics above remind us that our fun in the sun today could turn out to be no laughing matter tomorrow. You can find out more about how to best protect yourself and your children from skin cancer by visiting the Skin Cancer Foundation Web Site at www.skincancer.org/children or contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 to receive information on its Sun Safe Community initiative.” |
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