Did you know that nearly 5 million people are treated annually for skin cancer, at a cost of more than $8 billion? And that skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S.—and most of it can be prevented?!
Here’s what the CDC recommends we do to protect ourselves from the damaging UV rays of the sun:
- Stay out of the sun, if possible. Find some shade, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- When you are out in the sun, cover up. In addition to your sunglasses, wear a hat, protective clothing and broad spectrum sunscreen (with at least SPF 15.)
- Re-apply sunscreen every two hours—and immediately after swimming, sweating or toweling off.
- Be extra careful around surfaces that reflect the sun’s rays, like sand, water and concrete.
And what about those darn ticks we keep hearing so much about this year? There’s actually some debate about whether ticks are going to be more plentiful this year than in the past, but regardless, the best way to prevent Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases is to avoid tick exposure. Here’s a link to an informative article that addresses how to avoid exposure in the months ahead: wiscontext.org/abcs-tick-season-wisconsin.
Summer is a great time of the year, and we’re fortunate to live in an area that affords us plenty of fun outdoor activities to take advantage of. With a little planning and the right skin protection, your summer can be both fun and safe.
Laurie Ehlers, RN, CDE
RN Educator
Memorial Hall, Room 102
920-832-7498
laurie.ehlers@lawrence.edu