The Citizen, 1999-06-30, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNfe 30, 1999. _____ _____ ___
Jdealth
Sun a burning issue, while heat takes breath away
It is a season of colour, a season of
promise. It beckons outdoors for
work and play.
But despite the many enjoyable
aspects of summer, the sun and heat
can be hazardous.
It has been predicted that one out
of seven Canadians bom this year,
will develop skin cancer sometime
during his or her lifetime.
This is the message from the
Canadian Cancer Society’s
SunSense. According to Dave
Broadhurst, a volunteer, “One
severe sunburn during childhood
can double a child’s risk of develop
ing skin cancer later in life.”
The CCS states that in 1997
70,000 Canadians developed skin
cancer and although most cases were
not life-threatening, they are a sig
nificant health problem because the
cancer destroys tissue, usually
around the face. It was estimated
that by the end of that year skin can
cer had killed more than 660
Canadians.
Because of the depleting ozone
layer over the past two decades, the
ultraviolet radiation level reaching
earth has increased. Ozone is a gas
that filters much of the sun’s harmful
ultraviolet rays.
Though the rays are invisible their
-effects can be seen in sunburns and
premature aging of the skin. UV
rays also contribute to cataracts.
The more UV radiation people are
exposed to, the greater the risk of
developing this problems.
Because of the dangers the sun-
kissed look is no longer in vogue.
Marguerite Thomas of the Huron
County Healthy Unit says,
“Sunbronzed skin is not beautiful.
It’s a walking sign of skin damage.”
Skin is unforgiving and skin cancer
is caused by years of repeatedaccu-
mulated skin damage by ultraviolet
rays.
So who is at the highest risk.
People working outdoors, fair
skinned, fair-haired people, anyone
who has previously had skin cancer,
travellers soaking up the sun, people
who use tanning devices, people
who have had blistering sunburns in
childhood and people who freckle
easily or have many moles.
However, though dark-skinned
people have a greater amount of
melanin, and therefore are better
protected against skin cancer it does
not mean they are immune.
So with the warm, sunny weather
beckoning people outdoors how do
you protect yourself?
The chief cause of skin cancer is
exposure to the sun’s rays. To safely
enjoy the days ahead there are some
sensible rules to follow.
Avoid the sun between 11 a.m.
and 3 p.m.
• stay in the shade - spend less
time in direct sunlight
• avoid sun lamps and tanning par
lours. There is no healthy tan.
Protect yourself while in the
sun, even on cloudy days.
• cover up. Wear a sun hat and
keep arms and legs covered with
non-transparent clothing
• use a sunscreen with an SPF of
15 or more. Sunscreen should pro
tect against both UVA and UVB
rays. Apply 15 to 30 minutes before
going into the sun. Reapply every
two hours or after being in the water
• wear sunglasses that block as
much UV radiation as possible
• take extra care around surfaces
that reflect the sun’s rays like water,
concrete and sand.
• consult your doctor or pharma
cist if on medication; some can
make your skin more sensitive to the
sun.
Protect your children from the
sun too!
• keep babies under six months of
age out of direct sunlight
• do not use sunscreens
on children under six
months of age
• choose sunscreens
made for children. Test on
child’s forearm
• teach your children sun
safety habits. Sunscreen
should be standard equip
ment for camp, school and
the beach
• be a good role model.
Practise sun safety your
self.
Sunscreen tips.
• if you have a reaction to
a sunscreen, change it.
• pay extra attention to ears, nose
and tops of feet
• protect lips and other sensitive
areas with an opaque sunblock
• avoid sunscreen oils, which can
increase chances of burning
• remember spend less time in the
sun. No sunscreen offers complete
protection from the sun’s rays.
Working outside
Many people who work outdoors
need to take extra precautions. Of
course, safety comes first. For
example for construction workers
not only would a wide-brimmed hat
compromise the worker’s safety, but
they are legislated to wear regula
tion hard hats when on the job.
However, there are other things to
be done to protect yourself during
long days outdoors in the sun:
• Take breaks indoors or in shady
areas
• Wear clothing that protects as
much of your skin as possible.
• Wear a hat with a wide brim or
neck protector (unless on construc
tion sites when hard hats are
required)
• Put on UV protection sunglasses
or safety eyewear
• Use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or
higher and UVA and UVB protec
tion.
Employees and employers can
work together to build in as many
sun safe practices to the worksite as
possible.
Thomas said anyone interested in
information on the suppliers of
emissions in their day to day life.
For example, some workplaces pro
vide incentives such as bike racks
and shower facilities for employees
who use alternative methods to get
to work. Not only does this avoid
smog build-up, it promotes an over
all healthy lifestyle.
Thomas reminds that the dog days
of summer are not the time to get the
job done. “The bottom line in the
summer is to respect the weather and
be sensible. It is not the time to exert
yourself and increase the problem.”
Tanning is Great
Burning Isn't
Prevent
Sunburn
Damage...
Use a
sunscreen!
SPF 30 Face Guard Sticks
SPF 25 Lip Balm
Sunless Tan
Formula
SPF's 8 to 45
available in
lotions or
spray gels
Aloe Freeze for sunburn
relief
clothes desinged to block the sun s
rays can contact her at the health
unit.
Early Detection
Skin cancer is preventable, visible
and curable if detected and treated
early.
Practise monthly self-examina
tions from the top of your head to
the soles of your feet. Stand in front
of a full-length mirror and examine
your body from all sides.
Report to your doctor immediately
any changes in mole size, shape, tex
ture or sensation.
Use the ABCD method to remem
ber what to look for:
Asymmetry — one half is unlike
the other
Border irregular — scalloped or
poorly-defined border
Colour — varies from area to area
with shades of tan, brown, black,
white, red or blue.
Diameter — larger than the diam
eter of a pencil eraser
Also report any sore that persists
for more than four weeks or heals
and then re-opens.
Another summer danger
Summer can present another dan
ger, as well. High heat and humidity
can cause problems for asthma and
allergy sufferers as well as for the
very old and very young.
As the humidity index rises, so too
does air pollution making it
difficult for asthmatics and
others with respiratory prob
lems to breathe.
With the warmer weather
comes picnics, barbecues,
pool parties with friends and
family - and higher levels of
smog.
“Smog is a nasty mixture of
chemicals in the air that can
be harmful to your health,”
says Ken Ogilvie, executive
director of Pollution Probe.
“As a community, we should
be looking for ways to reduce
harmful emissions that lead
to smog.”
some people, smog causes
headaches, burning eyes, coughing
and shortness of breath. The most at
risk are young children, the elderly
and those who suffer from asthma or
respiratory illnesses. When planning
outdoor fun during the summer
months, it is important to check for
smog advisories. During periods of
high air pollution, it is best to stay
indoors or at least avoid strenuous
outdoor activities.
Motor vehicles are one of the
major sources of smog. Using non
polluting or less polluting ways to
get to work such as biking, carpool
ing, in-line skating or taking public
transit has a positive impact on air
quality. To put this in perspective, a
single bus can take up to 40 vehicles
off the road, save as much’ as 70,000
litres of fuel and keep nine tonnes of'
air pollutants per year out of the air.
More and more corporations are
encouraging their employees to be
conscious of ways to reduce harmful
Tips for Reducing
Harmful Emissions:
• Take public transit. On average,
one passenger on public transit
produces approximately eight
times less carbon dioxide than a
single driver in a car over the
same distance.
• Carpool when feasible. This
saves wear and tear on your vehi
cle and reduces fuel and parking
costs.
• Have your car regularly tuned.
Regularly checking your car’s
emission control system and
keeping the tires properly inflated
can reduce fuel consumption by
15 per cent.
• Try walking, running, biking or
in-line skating to get to work.
This is also a great way to
improve your health.
• Plan your trips. Eliminating
four short car trips every week
could save up to 100 kg. of carbon
dioxide emissions each year.
• Don't idle. Just 20 seconds of
idling consumes more fuel than
restarting your engine.
• Use cleaner fuels. Alternative
fuels such as ethanol or methanol
have fewer impurities than gaso
line, therefore producing less
emissions that contribute to smog.
222 Josephine St., Wingham
earthward
’'■'BOUND'*'! MIND BODY & SOUL
Celebrate the
hottest time of year
with hot deals!
Remember to seek shade
Slip on a shirt.
Slap on a hat.
Slop on the Sunscreen
Nature's Gate Sunblocks
Special Introductory Price!
Sale ends July 10
When you're in check out our new Bath &
Body Line starting at $1.99
Reg.Specif
Lotion SPF 15 $10.45 $7.99
Lotion SPF 30 $11.95 $9.15
Dry Lotion SPF 15 $10.45 $7.99
All other sunscreens 15* off
Hawaian Tropic SPF 45
Sunblock Lip Balm •$2.19 $1.49
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