Slide 8: Colorado Skin Cancer Rates



SUN SAFE COLORADO:

STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING

THE EFFECTS OF UV AT WORK

SCRIPT FOR POWERPOINT SLIDES

Thanks for taking the lead in sharing information about ultraviolet radiation and sun safe behaviors with employees at your workplace. The training may take place in 6 sessions, each 5 to 15 minutes in length, or as a single training session, 60 minutes in length.

Here are tips on how to provide good instruction:

• Take time to read the background information for each unit beforehand.

• Read the script completely, review the slides, and rehearse.

• Arrange your room so all of the employees can see the screen.

• Talk slowly when reading the script. This will give employees time to read the text on the slides and listen to what you’re saying.

• If someone has a question that you can’t answer, refer them to the website .

Here’s what you’ll need:

• One Strategies for Reducing the Effects of UV at Work PowerPoint file on computer for projection.

• This script.

INTRODUCTION

[Slide 1: Title Slide]

Welcome to Sun Safe Colorado, a worksite program that promotes sun safety, especially for outdoor workers. I appreciate you coming to the presentation today. And I think you’ll be surprised at how much you’ll learn. Sun Safe Colorado is sponsored by the National Health Institute.

[Slide 2: Introduction to Sun Safety Units]

Sun exposure is unavoidable for some people who work outdoors. However, there are ways to minimize over-exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet – or UV – radiation and to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer and eye damage. This program will show you how to protect your skin and eyes from the sun’s rays.

We’re going to cover ____ units during today’s training. They will address: (list the ones you plan to address today)

Unit 1: The skin cancer problem in the U.S. and Colorado

Unit 2: How UV damages the skin and eyes

Unit 3: How to assess your personal risk for skin cancer

Unit 4: How to reduce your over-exposure to UV

Unit 5: How to spot skin cancer early

Unit 6: How to set personal goals for sun safety

[Slide 3: The Sun: Its Benefits and Harms]

We couldn’t live without the sun. It does some great things for us. It gives us light and heat and it helps to grow our food. It also makes us feel good to be outside and gives us a place to be physically active outdoors. However, the sun also has its drawbacks. It can cause damage to the skin and eyes. We want to enjoy the benefits we get from working and recreating in the sun, but we also need to learn how to reduce OVER-exposure to the sun’s rays.

[Slide 4: Vitamin D is a Benefit]

In moderation, UV radiation does have one benefit worth talking about. It helps produce vitamin D. Vitamin D is an important nutrient that helps the body maintain normal levels of calcium and phosphorous. Vitamin D is important for strong bones and the prevention of rickets. And it may help prevent some cancers. You can also get vitamin D from supplements and foods such as fish and fish oil; fortified milk, orange juice and cereal; margarine; egg yolks; liver; and Swiss cheese.

[Slide 5: UV and Vitamin D]

If you do spend time in the sun to get your vitamin D, it doesn’t take long. It’s possible for a light-skinned person to get enough vitamin D by spending 10-15 minutes in the sun twice a week. That’s without sunscreen and with your face, arms, and hands exposed to the sun. This can be done early in the morning or late in the afternoon when UV is less intense.

It’s easy to get enough UV exposure without adding extra time in the sun. That’s because the average person gets about 14 hours of incidental sun exposure a week. Like from walking to your car or mailbox, for example.

UNIT 1 SLIDES

[Slide 6: The Skin Cancer Problem]

Let’s start by talking about the skin cancer problem in the United States and Colorado. Is this really a big deal for us?

[Slide 7: UV and Skin Cancer]

The sun is not often thought of as an environmental hazard. But it can be! Ultraviolet radiation is a human carcinogen. It causes cancer. Skin cancer! So, while we protect ourselves from other cancer-causing agents like asbestos, radon, lead, pesticides or chemicals, we should think of the sun in much the same way.

[Slide 8: Skin Cancer Facts]

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. There are two main types of skin cancer: melanoma and nonmelanoma. Over 2 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year. Most of these are nonmelanoma. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer. And men get skin cancer twice as often as women. Skin cancer rates are going up while rates of most other types of cancer are coming down.

[Slide 9: Melanoma Facts]

Melanoma increased almost 45% in the US between 1992 and 2004. Almost 60,000 cases of melanoma will occur in the United States this year. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be about 8,000 deaths from melanoma this year. In fact, one person dies every 65 minutes from malignant melanoma.

[Slide 10: More Melanoma Facts]

Melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is the sixth most common cancer in men and women in the United States. It is THE MOST COMMON cancer in young adults age 25 to 29. Melanoma is 10 times more common in whites than people of other races.

[Slide 11: Colorado Skin Cancer Rates]

Skin cancer is a real problem here in Colorado. Our melanoma rates are getting higher. As you can see, Colorado men have a 16% higher rate of melanoma than the national average. And Colorado women have a 21% higher rate of melanoma than women from the rest of the country. We currently do not have the data on nonmelanoma skin cancers in Colorado. But as you can see, we should be concerned about our rates of melanoma. Remember that melanoma can be deadly if it is not found early and treated by a doctor.

[Slide 12: What Can You Do?]

So, even though these statistics are alarming, the news is not all bad. There are several things that you can do to prevent skin cancer – and to detect it early. These include understanding the relationship between UV and skin cancer, knowing your personal risk, practicing sun safety, and examining your skin. You can also be a role model for other people at work and at home. We’ll talk about the relationship between UV and skin cancer in Unit 2.

UNIT 2 SLIDES

[Slide 13: Understand How UV Damages the Skin and Eyes]

Now let’s talk about how UV damages the skin and eyes in order to gain a better understanding of skin cancer prevention.

[Slide 14: The Electromagnetic Spectrum]

This illustration of the electromagnetic spectrum shows the types of light waves that are emitted from the sun. The types of light with the longest wavelengths are shown on the left, and the types of light with the shortest wavelengths are shown on the right. Shorter waves are more dangerous.

On the left we have infrared light which makes the heat and warmth that we feel from the sun. In the middle is the visible light from the sun -- the sunlight that we see. On the farthest edge of the violet part of visible light is “ultra” violet light. This invisible light is actually ultraviolet radiation.

There are three kinds of ultraviolet radiation: UVA, UVB and UVC. Currently, UVC is blocked from reaching earth by the atmospheric ozone layer, but UVA and UVB get through and cause tanning, sun burning, skin cancer, and eye damage.

[Slide 15: UVA and UVB Radiation]

Take a look at this diagram. It shows the three major layers of the skin. The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin, the one you see when you look at yourself. The dermis is the middle layer. It’s much thicker than the epidermis and contains hair follicles, sweat glands, blood vessels and nerves. The subcutis is below the dermis and is a network of fat cells and collagen. It keeps your body warm and acts like a shock absorber to protect you from injury.

Different wavelengths of UV rays penetrate to different layers of your skin. UVB penetrates the surface layer. UVB radiation is what's responsible for sunburns. Think: "B" for "Burning.” UVA radiation plays a part in tanning – that’s why it’s used by artificial tanning devices. But since it can get through to deeper layers of your skin, it's also responsible for wrinkling and other signs of aging. Think: "A" for "Aging."

All the time you spend in the sun adds up over time and can play a role in skin cancer. Tanning is one way that you can over-expose your skin to the sun's harmful UV rays. Burning is another. Sunburns are caused by intense, intermittent exposure to UV rays.

[Slide 16: There’s No Healthy Tan]

In reaction to sunlight, the skin produces melanin, the pigment that gives us our skin color. Melanin darkens the skin in an attempt to protect it from the damaging UV rays. So, a tan is a sign that your skin is trying to protect itself from more harm.

Contrary to popular belief, a suntan is not a good way to protect your skin from UV damage. A tan may only give your skin a small amount of protection -- about an SPF of 4. And your skin is being damaged while you’re getting the tan. There’s really no healthy way to get a tan from the sun or tanning lamps.

[Slide 17: Ban the Burn!]

And, you should always avoid sunburning. When your skin swells and turns red or, in the worst case, blisters and peels, you've literally fried your epidermis. As few as 5 severe, blistering sunburns early in life may double your risk for developing melanoma later in life. It’s critical that children, especially, don’t get sunburned. But it’s not too late for us to get less sun exposure and less sun damage either. The damage caused by tanning and burning cannot be reversed. And it can lead to skin cancer.

[Slide 18: How Skin Cancer Starts]

All cancers start with changes in cell structure. Some cells lose their “program” and start to grow out of control. These cells can then spread to other parts of the body. With skin cancer, UVA and UVB rays hit the layers of our skin, damaging the cells. The skin produces melanin as a defense mechanism to protect against more damage. The immune system kicks in to repair the damaged cells. Sometimes the immune system is successful and sometimes it’s not. And more UV exposure can get in the way of the repair. In as few as 5 years, skin cancer can occur.

[Slide 19: Types of Skin Cancer]

Well, what exactly is skin cancer? There are three types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma. Each occurs in a different type of skin cell.

Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are often called nonmelanoma skin cancers. If caught early, nonmelanoma skin cancers are pretty easy to treat. They can usually be removed by a dermatologist in an office visit. But, this can be painful and can leave scars. Fortunately, even though nonmelanomas are so common, they cause very few deaths.

Malignant melanoma is not as common. It accounts for about 3% of all skin cancers. But it’s the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It often occurs at a younger age than most cancers. In fact, half of all melanomas are found in people under the age of 57. If discovered early, melanoma can be removed successfully. If not treated early, melanoma will spread to other places in the body, like the lungs, liver and brain -- and can be deadly. Remember that the skin is the largest and most connected organ in your body.

[Slide 20: Basal Cell Carcinoma]

Here are some photos of basal cell skin cancers. They are the most common type of skin cancer. They most often appear on sun-exposed parts of the body like the face and ears. They can look like a pearly white or red bump or like a sore that heals and comes back again and again. They don’t spread through the lymph or blood system but they can grow large and deep if left untreated.

[Slide 21: Squamous Cell Carcinoma]

These photos show some examples of squamous cell skin cancers. They also most often occur on sun-exposed areas of the skin -- but they can occur anywhere, even in your mouth. They often look like crusty or scaly patches of skin. Squamous cell cancers are rarely fatal, but if left untreated they can spread to the lymph system and cause death.

[Slide 22: Malignant Melanoma]

And here is malignant melanoma. It most often occurs on the chest or back of fair-skinned men or the legs of fair-skinned women. But it can occur anywhere on anyone. It starts in the skin cells that make melanin, the pigment that gives us our skin color. Melanoma tumors are usually brown or black, because the cells are producing melanin. Melanoma can be deadly if it’s not treated early.

[Slide 23: Most Skin Cancer is Preventable]

Skin cancer is a serious disease. Lucky for us, it can be prevented. And it can be detected early because it gives us a warning sign – a changing mole. To prevent skin cancer, you need to know what your risk is for developing skin cancer and how to be more sun safe on and off the job. To detect it early, you need to know how to check your skin for things that have changed or things that don’t look quite right.

UNIT 3 SLIDES

[Slide 24: Assess Your Risk]

Anyone’s skin or eyes can be hurt by the sun’s UV rays. But some people are at greater risk than others for developing skin cancer. What’s your personal risk for skin cancer? Take a few minutes to read the Personal Risk Assessment pamphlet and answer the questions. Then score the assessment yourself to see if you’re at low, medium or high risk for skin cancer.

[Slide 25: Understanding Your Risk]

What gives each of us a different score on this assessment? Well, your risk for skin cancer is determined by 3 things: who you are, where you live, and what you do.

Who you are is your skin type. It’s determined by personal features like hair color, eye color, and the way your skin responds to the sun. For example, does it burn or tan? You can’t do anything about these personal characteristics. They’re your genetics. You are who you are!

Even if you have darker skin, your risk for skin cancer is not zero. You are still at risk for developing skin cancer and eye damage, and will likely be impacted by the aging effects of the sun. Also, people with darker skin are more likely to have skin cancer diagnosed at a later stage when it is more difficult to treat. So prevention and early detection are very important for everyone.

[Slide 26: The Six Skin Types]

Dermatologists have determined that there are six common skin types – as shown here. People with Skin Types 1 and 2 have the highest risk for skin cancer. These people have less melanin, or pigment, in their skin. People with Skin Type 3 have medium risk. And people with Skin Types 4, 5 and 6 have low risk. They have more melanin which acts as a natural sunscreen.

[Slide 27: Highest Risk Factors]

People with the highest risk for skin cancer have blond or red hair, blue or green eyes, and very fair skin, sometimes with freckles. When exposed to the sun, their skin burns easily and doesn’t really tan. People at high risk for skin cancer may also have many moles or large moles. And they can have other family members with melanoma. And gender is a risk factor, too. Men are 2 times as likely as women to develop basal cell cancers and 3 times as likely to develop squamous cell cancers. This is likely due to more sun exposure.

[Slide 28: Your Environment: Colorado]

Where you live is your environment. You can’t do much about that either -- unless you move! Colorado has a great environment for outdoor activities like hiking, boating and skiing. So, we want to spend more time out-of-doors. Here in Colorado, we have lots of sunny days and high elevations which expose us to more UV than other places. In fact, UV intensity increases about 5 % for every 1,000 feet that you go up in elevation. That’s because the atmosphere gets thinner. So that means Denver’s UV at 5,280 feet is 26% higher than at sea level. And Leadville’s UV is 50% higher! We’re not as close to the equator as Florida, Texas or Arizona, but the elevation makes our UV levels a lot like those southern states.

[Slide 29: Denver’s Daily UV - 2009]

So when is UV the highest? Denver’s UVB level is forecasted and then recorded every day by the Environmental Protection Agency. This graphic shows Denver’s UV Index predictions and actual readings for every day in 2009. The UV Index, developed by the National Weather Service and EPA, tells us the strength of solar UV radiation on a scale from 1 (low) to 11+ (extremely high). You can see that Denver’s UV is considered high to extreme from April through October. It’s during these months that you should protect yourself against sunburn. In 2009, there were 51 high UV days, 93 very high UV days, and 13 extremely high UV days in Denver. Keep in mind that UV is higher at higher elevations even during the winter months.

[Slide 30: UV Average for July]

As we’ve said, the sun’s UV rays can be particularly strong here in Colorado because of our high altitude. This slide demonstrates this fact. Our state’s UV average in July rivaled Hawaii’s; we had high to extremely high UV conditions throughout the state for the entire month. When the UV index is high or very high, protection against sun damage is definitely needed.  However, keep in mind that any time the index rises above a 3, sun safe behaviors are recommended so it is best to be sun safe all year long in Colorado.

[Slide 31: Your Behavior]

That brings us to what you do – that is, your behavior. Do you work outdoors? Play golf? Hike? Ski? When you’re outdoors, do you protect your skin and eyes from the sun? How often do you let yourself get sunburned?

[Slide 32: Sun Protection in Colorado]

People in Colorado have a low rate of sun protection use -- meaning we don’t cover-up or use sunscreen often enough. And as we heard, Coloradans get a lot of sunburns. If you work outdoors in Colorado and choose NOT to cover up or wear sunscreen, then you’ll be exposed to more UV and be at greater risk for skin cancer. You may not be able to control your skin type or where you live, but you often DO have choices when it comes to your own behavior – as long as your sun safe actions don’t impact on your job safety in other ways.

[Slide 33: Outdoor Workers]

Studies have shown that outdoor workers receive up to 8 times more UV than indoor workers. And they have a 60 % greater risk of developing skin cancer. So are outdoor workers at higher risk for melanoma or nonmelanoma? Outdoor workers are actually at higher risk for nonmelanoma skin cancer. Indoor workers are at higher risk for melanoma – probably because of intense sunburns when they do go out or take a sunny vacation.

[Slide 34: Reflective Work Surfaces]

Speaking of working outdoors, several work surfaces reflect UV. Snow is the biggest offender. Fresh powder can reflect 88% of UV right back up at you. Asphalt reflects 5 to 9%, concrete 10 to 12%, sand 15 to 18%, and white house paint reflects 22% of UV. Be aware of your work surfaces and know that even in the shade you can be getting reflected UV.

UNIT 4 SLIDES

[Slide 35: Reduce Your Over-exposure to UV Radiation]

So now that you know what your risk for over-exposure to UV is, what’s your next step? It’s to work and live every day with sun safety in mind. Sun safety has 4 major strategies and lots of ways to put them into practice. Some of these things are easier to do on the job than others – but none of them are impossible. First, there’s monitoring the UV level to know when to take safety precautions. Second there’s using shade. Third is covering up with hats, long sleeves and sunglasses. And fourth is applying sunscreen. Let’s talk about each one in that order.

[Slide 36: OSHA Recommendations]

But first, know that everything we talk about today falls in line with the recommendations of OSHA. OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Like the American Cancer Society they recommend shade, hats, sunglasses, sun-protective clothing and sunscreen for working outdoors, especially when UV is high.

[Slide 37: Monitor UV]

Let’s start with monitoring UV. UV is not high all the time, so it’s good to check the UV Index every day. This is especially important during the summer months when our part of the Earth is closer to the sun. UV is also strongest in the middle of the day when the sun is directly overhead. However, UVA hangs around until later in the afternoon. Checking the weather helps predict UV some of the time. UV is lower on rainy days, but you can still get a sunburn on a cloudy day. So how can we know when UV is really strong? And how often does that happen in Colorado? That’s where the UV Index comes in.

[Slide 38: UV Index Scale]

The EPA publishes the UV Index every day online. You can also find it in the weather section of the newspaper. The UV Index scale goes from 1 to 11 plus. Sun protection should start when the Index is a 3 or more. UV is considered high at 6 and very high at 8. Sun protection should definitely be used on these days. Eleven is considered extremely high but that only happens a few days each year in Denver where the UV is measured for our state. Check the UV Index every day – especially during the summer months – to know how much sun precaution you should take that day.

[Slide 39: Use Shade]

Shade is one sun precaution you can take as long as it doesn’t cause a safety concern or interfere with your work. In some cases you may need to take the shade with you like a pop-up canopy. Think about taking your breaks and eating your lunch in the shade, too. If you work or eat lunch in a vehicle, keep in mind that car window glass blocks UVB but not all UVA.

Going indoors is considered shade, too. One of the most difficult things to do on the job is to rearrange your outdoor work schedule. I mention it here because it is one way to reduce UV exposure. If there are simple things you can do, like have your outdoor trainings early in the morning -- before 10 am -- or late in the afternoon -- after 4 pm -- then great! If not, there are other ways to stay safe in the sun.

[Slide 40: UV and Driving]

A new study from the University of Washington provides us with new evidence that we need to take precautions when driving. In this study, researchers examined the location of over 80,000 melanomas.

ASK: What side of the body do you think more melanomas were located on?

The left side.

ASK: On what part of the left side of the body do you think the skin cancers were located?

The left arm. While we cannot conclude that there is a direct causal relationship between these incidences and driving, the evidence certainly points in that direction. So if you spend a lot of time in your vehicle, remember to take precautions, particularly by applying sunscreen to your left arm.

[Slide 41: Cover Up]

Sun protective clothing, hats and sunglasses are shade you can wear. Let’s talk about each one and how they can protect your skin and eyes from the sun.

[Slide 42: Sun Protective Clothing]

Clothing can be a very effective form of sunscreen. It protects against UVA and UVB. And it doesn’t wash off, wear off or sweat off. It lasts all day or until you take it off.

When choosing clothing for sun protection, the more skin you cover the better. Long sleeved-shirts are better than tank tops or short-sleeved ones and long pants are better than shorts. Because they cover more skin!

Clothes made from tightly-woven fabrics provide better protection. To find out if your fabric is tightly-woven, hold it up to a light. If you can see visible light through the weave, then invisible UV light can get through, too.

Also, dark colors of fabrics absorb more UV than light colors. But always try to wear clothing that keeps you cool and comfortable.

Slide 43: Hats

Hats are shade you can take with you. Hats that shade your face, ears and neck are the best. Look for hats with a 3-inch wide brim all the way around or hats with long flaps in the back to cover your neck. Avoid visors that don’t cover the top of the head. And even baseball caps don’t cover the ears or the back of the neck. However, wearing a hat with any type of brim is better than wearing one without a brim. And ANY hat is better than no hat.

[Slide 44: Sunglasses]

UV rays can harm your eyes, too. A very common eye problem that appears to be related to sun exposure is cataracts. Cataracts cause the lens of the eye to become cloudy and unable to focus light onto the retina. You can easily protect your eyes from over-exposure to the sun by wearing sunglasses that block 99 to 100% of UV rays. Check the labels for UV protection. Sunglasses should be big but they don’t have to be dark or expensive to shade out UV rays.

[Slide 45: Apply Sunscreen]

Sunscreen is shade in a bottle. Actually it comes in many different forms. It doesn’t matter if you use a lotion, spray, towellette or roll-on. All sunscreen products are regulated by the FDA for effectiveness. They just have to have an SPF of 15 or more to be considered a sunscreen.

[Slide 46: Sunscreen Basics]

An SPF of 30 or more might be better for working outdoors all day. Most sunscreens these days are broad spectrum. They block some UVA and UVB. Most sunscreens are also PABA-free now. A lot of people were allergic to PABA so sunscreen companies stopped using it. Try to make sunscreen a habit every day – even in the winter here in Colorado. And don’t forget to wear lip balm with SPF 15 or more.

[Slide 47: What is SPF?]

SPF is short for Sun Protection Factor. SPF tells you two things: (1) how much UV the sunscreen will absorb or reflect and (2) how long it will last. Most sunscreens protect against UVA and UVB, but they can differ in the amount of UVA that they cover.

[Slide 48: Strength of Protection]

Most sunscreens have an SPF number between 15 and 50. Anything less than 15 is not considered a sunscreen. An SPF 15 screens 93% of UVB, SPF 30 screens 97%, and SPF 50 screens 98%. So, as the SPF number goes up, so does the strength of the protection – but not by all that much as you can see. And no sunscreen blocks 100% of UV.

[Slide 49: Length of Protection]

You can calculate how long your sunscreen will last by multiplying how many minutes it takes your skin to redden times the SPF number. For example, let’s say your skin is fair and burns in 12 minutes under the midday summer sun without sun protection. And you have on an SPF 30. So, multiply the 12 minutes by the 30 SPF. That equals 360. You can stay out in the sun for 360 minutes, or 6 hours, without getting burned. If you had on SPF 15 you would get 3 hours and with SPF 45 you’d get 9 hours of protection. That’s how SPF works. Remember that the sunscreen minutes are only ticking off when you’re outside exposed to UV. When you’re inside, the clock stops.

[Slide 50: Two Types of Sunscreen]

There are two types of sunscreen: those that absorb UV and those that reflect it. Most sunscreens have chemicals that absorb UV. It’s like wearing a sponge on your skin that soaks up the UV. Other sunscreens contain tiny metals that reflect or scatter UV away. They’re like putting tin foil on your skin. These chemicals are called titanium dioxide and micronized zinc oxide. These sunscreens usually

have high SPF numbers.

Each of the types has pros and cons. The chemicals in the UV absorbers need time to bond with your skin. So you need to apply them about 15 to 30 minutes BEFORE going out in the sun. The reflecting sunscreens work right away. On the other hand, the reflecting sunscreens can rub off more easily than the absorbers. Both types work well. Overall, pick what you think feels good and smells good because sunscreen only works if you use it.

[Slide 51: The Two Finger Rule: How Much to Apply]

Many people often ask how much sunscreen should they really apply. A new recommendation has come out called the “two finger rule” that can help clear this up. So what you want to do is apply sunscreen on the length of your first two fingers (index and middle finger). The next slide shows us where we should apply this.

[Slide 52: The Two Finger Rule: Where to Apply]

On this slide, you will see that the body is divided into eleven parts. (You can discuss each part of the body as you see fit.) It is recommended that you apply two fingers of sunscreen to each of the eleven parts of the body on this slide. If you think that two fingers is too much to apply at the start, you can apply one finger of sunscreen to each of the eleven parts and then wait twenty minutes and apply the second finger.

[Slide 53: How to Apply Sunscreen]

Sunscreen needs to be applied correctly to work at its best. Put the UV-absorbing sunscreens on about 15 to 30 minutes ahead of going out in the sun. Cover all exposed skin like the back of your ears and neck – not just your nose and face. And don’t rub it in too hard or it won’t work as well.

[Slide 54: When to Reapply]

It’s not enough to put sunscreen on only once a day. You have to reapply it to keep it powerful. Sunscreen should be reapplied at least every 2 hours. Remember that sunscreen can rub off, sweat off, and come off in water. So you have to reapply it after toweling off, sweating, or getting wet. Reapply early and often! A recent study found that reapplying sunscreen 20 minutes after you first put it on increases its effectiveness, probably because you catch all the spots you missed the first time!

[Slide 55: Don’t Reapply to Extend Your Time]

UV-absorbing sunscreen shouldn’t be reapplied to make it last longer. Reapplying this type of sunscreen only keeps up the protection you were already getting with the first application of the day. It doesn’t provide additional protection. That may be a new concept for some of you, but it’s true. You can’t get to the end of your 2 hours and then reapply and get another 2 hours. Sunscreen only works for the first amount of time it was set up to work. The clock is ticking while you’re out in the sun but when the minutes are up, that’s it. So if you know you’re going to be out all day, use a higher SPF!

[Slide 56: Sunscreen and DEET Mosquito Repellant]

Colorado has the mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus. So it might be important for you to use mosquito repellant on the job sometimes. Avoid using products that combine sunscreen with DEET. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied at least every 2 hours, but DEET mosquito repellant is only meant to be used once a day. It’s probably not a good idea to reapply DEET every time you reapply your sunscreen. Besides mosquitoes come out at dawn and dusk and you need sunscreen between 10 and 4. So the products don’t really need to overlap.

UNIT 5 SLIDES

[Slide 57: Practice Early Detection]

You have learned what it takes to be sun safe while on the job, now it’s time to learn a little about what you can do at home to spot skin cancer early.

Normal moles are usually round and smaller than a pencil eraser. Most moles are harmless, but learning to watch your moles is a good idea. This way you can be alert for the warning signs of melanoma. The American Academy of Dermatology’s ABCDE Rule can help you to detect changes in your moles and other skin spots. Changes may be indicators of skin cancer and may need to be reported to your doctor.

[Slide 58: Detect Skin Cancer Early]

At least 95% of skin cancer can be cured if detected early. Check your skin every year. Look for changes in spots or moles, or look for sores that don’t heal or go away. Make sure to point out any unusual findings to your doctor. Circle things with a marker that you’d like your doctor to look at, so you don’t forget where they are.

[Slide 59: Know Your ABCDE’s for Moles]

Use the ABCDE Rule for checking moles:

A is for Asymmetry: One half of the mole or birthmark does not match the other.

B is for Border: The edges are ragged, irregular, or poorly defined.

[Slide 60: ABCDE Rule Continued]

C is for Color: The color varies from one area to another. It may have differing shades of brown or black, sometimes white, red or blue.

D is for Diameter: The area is larger than 6 millimeters – about the size of a pencil eraser -- and is growing larger.

E is for Evolving: If you see any changes in a mole, the development of a new mole or any other unusual changes in your skin, see your doctor or a dermatologist.

[Slide 61: Check Your Skin Every Year]

The American Academy of Dermatology suggests the following routine for a doing a skin self-exam each year:

First, examine yourself front and back in the mirror and then your right and left sides with your arms raised.

Second, bend your elbows and look carefully at your forearms and upper underarms and palms.

Third, look at the backs of your legs, the spaces between your toes, and the soles of your feet.

[Slide 62: Skin Self-Examination Continued]

Fourth, examine the back of your neck and your scalp with a hand mirror.

Finally, check your entire backside with a hand mirror. If you have any doubt about a mole or a changing spot on your skin, show it to your doctor or see a dermatologist.

UNIT 6 SLIDES

[Slide 63: Set Sun Safety Goals]

So how can you work sun safe? Set some goals to change your behavior based on what you’ve learned today.

[Slide 64: Setting Goals]

Decide on one or two things you can do and set some goals for yourself. Goals should be specific, measurable and attainable. I’ll show you some examples on the next slide. Then put these new behaviors into practice. Let them become habit - like wearing safety goggles or a seat belt. And be a role model for others.

[Slide 65: Examples of Sun Safety Goals]

Here are some examples of specific, measurable and attainable goals – things you CAN do:

“I will check the UV Index online every day during the months of March through October and post it on a bulletin board for my work crew to see.”

“I will apply SPF 30 sunscreen to all of my exposed skin every day before my shift during the months of May through September, and record it on my daily calendar.”

“I will keep sunscreen in my lunch box and reapply it at lunchtime every day.”

[Slide 66: Sun Safety at Our Worksite]

To wrap things up, let’s talk about what we can and can’t do about sun protection at our workplace for a couple of minutes. It’s important that you know what you’re responsible for and what the workplace does or doesn’t want you to do:

What are you willing to do to be more sun safe on the job?

Is there anything our workplace requires you to do?

What are you responsible for providing vs. what is our workplace providing – if anything?

Is there anything you can’t do because of work or safety restrictions?

Are there any obstacles in your way?

If there are, can they be removed?

[Slide 67: Summary]

Congratulations! You now know how to protect your skin and eyes from over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the job and at home. It can be as easy as:

Checking the UV Index to know when UV is high

Finding shade or bringing it with you

Wearing long sleeves and long pants

Wearing a wide-brimmed hat

Wearing sunglasses

Using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher

Avoiding tanning lamps

Checking your skin for changes

[Slide 68: For More Information]

For more information, you can contact the Sun Safe Colorado program at this phone number.

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