- HOME
- EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
- TOOLS FOR CHANGE
- TOPIC OF THE MONTH
- COUNSELING & SUPPORT
- FITNESS
- HEALTH EDUCATION
- NUTRITION
- PREVENTIVE CARE
- SMOKING CESSATION
- STRESS MANAGEMENT
- WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
- TERMS OF USE
July is UV Safety Month
Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap!
Planning a trip? Going for a swim? Or just enjoying the sunshine? Don't forget the American Cancer Society's sun safety tips, which can protect you and those you love while outdoors. Most skin cancers are preventable if you follow a few simple steps to shield your skin from harmful ultraviolet or UV rays. Remember these tips before you head outside:
- Slip on a shirt, preferably a dark colored one with tightly woven fabric and long sleeves.
- Slop on sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more.
- Slap on a wide-brimmed hat.
- Wrap on sunglasses and protect your eyes from the sun.
- Stay in the shade, particularly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Knowing the correct way to apply sunscreen is a crucial step in this sun safety routine. For the best effect, apply sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before stepping outside. A palm-sized amount of sunscreen should be enough to cover an average adult’s arms, legs, neck, and face. For best results, most sunscreens need to be reapplied every two hours, and after swimming, sweating heavily, or toweling off.
Check your local UV Index daily, a scale of 1-11+ that measures the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the ground during an hour around noon each day. The higher the number, the greater your risk for UV exposure. On a high-UV day, UV rays can begin to cause sun damage to a fair-skinned person within 15 minutes without skin protection like sunscreen. The UV Index can be found at the National Weather Service at weather.gov.
Remember, protecting yourself and those you love from the sun reduces your risk of skin cancer. While largely treatable, skin cancer can be deadly. According to the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures 2008, more than one million skin cancers will be diagnosed this year, and 11,200 people will die from skin cancer.
Source: American Cancer Society, a UW wellness partner
What's Your Sun Safety IQ?
Sun safety is not just for vacation. Are you sun-safe every day? Take the American Cancer Society's 9-question quiz and find out. Click here.
Resources
- Hazards of Ultra Violet Light (UW Environmental Health & Safety)
- American Cancer Society (Log in using "husky")
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- EPA's Action Steps for Sun Safety
- National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention
FDA Announces New Rules about Sun Screen Labels
Test your knowledge about UV safety
Health Risk Assessment
Get immediate, confidential feedback on your health risks. Uniform Medical Plan enrollees will earn bonus awards! Take your HRA today.