Prevention Beat

June 4, 2008

Did you know...?        

June 8-14th is Sun Safety Week

Although 80% of lifetime sun exposure comes before the age of 18, adults still need to take precautions while working or playing in the sun.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, and it is increasing faster than any other form of cancer.  One in three cancers is a skin cancer, and one in five Americans will develop a skin cancer in his or her lifetime.  An estimated 1.2 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed each year, more than all new cases of lung, breast, colon and prostrate cancer combined.  An estimated 10,000 people die annually from skin cancer.  At these rates, more than 26 people die each day, an average of one person per hour.

While melanoma is the rarest form of skin cancer, it is also the deadliest.  If it is not caught early, it rapidly spreads to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system and become very difficult to control.  The incidence of melanoma has increased at a rate of 4% a year, on average since 1981.  Melanoma also occurs at a younger age than other forms of skin cancer.  It is not uncommon for it to occur in the mid to late teen years and is quite common in ages 20-30.

Studies conducted at the Harvard Medical School indicate that melanoma may be related to intermittent blistering sunburns, particularly if the sunburn occurs before the age of 20.  Experts believe that a serious burn may alter the genetic material of the pigment cells in the skin of a growing child, leading to the formation of unstable moles that have the potential to become malignant.

While it’s a proven fact that overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation is a primary cause of skin cancer, there are many steps people can take to minimize their risk and still enjoy outdoor activities.  Knowing the proper precautions for the different UV Index levels is one of the best and easiest steps leading to self-protection against skin cancer.

The UV Index, jointly developed by the EPA and the National Weather Service, predicts the next day’s ultraviolet radiation levels on a scale of 1-11+, with recommended protective actions for different levels.

Listed below is a description of each level and recommended protective actions to take:

2 or less: Low

A UV Index reading of 2 or less means low danger from the sun’s UV rays for the average person:

• Wear Sunglasses on bright days.  In winter, reflection off snow can nearly double UV strength.

• If you burn easily, cover up and use sunscreen.

3 – 5: Moderate

A UV Index reading of 3 to 5 means moderate risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.

• Take precautions, such as covering up, if you will be outside.

• Stay in shade near midday when the sun is strongest.

6 – 7: High

A UV Index reading of 6 to 7 means high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. Apply a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 15. Wear a wide-brim hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes.

• Protection against sunburn is needed.

• Reduce time in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Cover up, wear a hat and sunglasses, and use sunscreen.

8 - 10: Very High

A UV Index reading of 8 to 10 means very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.  Protect yourself by liberally applying a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.

• Take extra precautions. Unprotected skin will be damaged and can burn quickly.

• Minimize sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Otherwise, seek shade, cover up, wear a hat and sunglasses, and use sunscreen.

11+: Extreme

A UV Index reading of 11 or higher means extreme risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.    Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 liberally every 2 hours.

• Take all precautions. Unprotected skin can burn in minutes. Beachgoers should know that white sand and other bright surfaces reflect UV and will increase UV exposure.

• Try to avoid sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Seek shade, cover up, wear a hat and sunglasses, and use sunscreen.

Other preventive measures to prevent skin cancer include:

Thoroughly examine your skin every few months.

• Look for changes in the size, color, texture or shape of a mole or other dark spot.

• Are there any new, abnormal moles? (Or bleeding from a mole?)

• Have any unusual bumps or growths on face, ears, arms, chest, and back?

If you have any of the above physical features—or anything else out of the ordinary— show your physician or a dermatologist as soon as possible.

For more information about sun safety visit the Sun Safety Alliance web site at:  http://www.sunsafetyalliance.org/education_materials.html.

*Please feel free to forward this information to any member of management in your company who would benefit from it.*

To learn more about services OHS-COMPCARE has to offer, contact our Client Services Team at (816) 561-2105 (option 1) or by e-mail at customerservice@ohscompcare.com.  You can also visit us at www.ohscompcare.com.

Why choose us?  Because OHS-COMPCARE gets your employee in and out quickly. Throughput standards average 60 minutes for physician visits and average 20 minutes for a nursing or drug screen visit.

OHS-COMPCARE has eight (8) area clinical facilities:

Blue Springs Clinical Facility	Independence Clinical Facility	Johnson County Clinical Facility	St. Joseph Clinical Facility
801 NW St. Mary’s Drive	19000 E. Eastland Center Crt, St. 200	10415 Lackman Road	904 Edmond Street
Blue Springs, MO 64104	Independence, MO 64055	Lenexa, KS 66219	St. Joseph, MO 64501
816-224-9121	816-478-9299	913-495-9905	816-233-7702
	After Hours Available
KCMO/Broadway Clinical Facility	KCMO/Front Street Clinical Facility	Wyandotte County Clinical Facility	Grandview Clinical Facility
1650 Broadway	6501 East Commerce, Suite 110	1333 Meadowlark Lane, Suite 200	13830 S Us Highway 71
Kansas City, MO 64108	Kansas City, MO 64120	Kansas City, KS  66102	Grandview, MO 64030
816-842-2020	816-483-5550	913-596-2774	816-761-4664