Stay Safe in the Sun

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 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.

UW Medical Experts

Healthy Lifestyles Series

University of Washington Medical Center presents a series of medical lectures promoting healthy lifestyles. The latest information on exercise, preventive medical care, and treatment of injuries is discussed by a panel of medical experts during live lectures. For more information, see UW Medical Center.

The following medical programs are available on UWTV and in streaming video on the web:

A Pain in the Knee
Should you see the doctor for your knee pain? Trey Green, an orthopaedic surgeon from the UW Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, provides practical tips on caring for your knee and when to seek help.

Conquering Low Back Pain: A Rehabilitation Approach
UW doctors discuss the common causes of low back pain, debunk some low back pain myths, and demonstrate exercise and preventive strategies that keep the spine healthy and fit. Learn strategies to either gain or maintain a healthy back in order to continue an active lifestyle for any sport or daily activity.

Embracing Fitness: Training for a Half Marathon
If you want to begin training for a marathon or half-marathon, Alysun Deckert, a marathon runner and clinical dietitian with UW Medical Center, explains how to create your own sensible and injury-free exercise routine.

Minimally Invasive Joint Replacement
UW Dr. Seth Leopold discusses less-invasive knee and hip replacement surgery. Minimally-invasive partial knee replacement surgery results in faster recovery and less post-operative pain than traditional knee replacement.

Preventing Lower Back Pain
Learn about the common sources of lower back pain, what you can do on our own to prevent or relieve it, and when to see a doctor.

Shoulder Arthroscopy and Rotator Repair
Dr. Christopher Wahl, UW Sports Medicine specialist, discusses treatments for damage to the shoulder rotator cuff and ligaments.

Sources: UW Medical Center, and UWTV, the University of Washington's award-winning television channel, offering original, non-commercial educational video programming - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Wellness Partner News

BecauseWeCare

Are you looking for inspiration to a healthier life—one that reduces your chances of getting cancer or helps you to cope? Our UWellness partner, the American Cancer Society (ACS), can help. ACS provides UW faculty and staff with helpful tools and resources including a monthly newsletter, BecauseWeCare. The July issue, which is available in English and Spanish, features:

• Safety First for Your Picnic Food
• Pain Relief for a Dreaded Sunburn
• Protect Your Pup from the Heat
• Teen Depression: More Than the Blues
• Pack Right for Outdoor Outing
• New Moves at Your Local Gym
• Grilled Chicken Breasts with Pineapple Salsa
• Pineapple: A Taste of the Tropics

Source: American Cancer Society

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