The National Ozone Unit – Cancer Awareness Month Edufest at National Academy for the Performing Arts

The National Ozone Unit booth at the Cancer Awareness Edufest focused on raising awareness about the effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on the skin and Skin Cancer.  There were a number of primary and secondary school students and their teachers for the two day event.  Here are some pictures from the Edufest! 

Can skin cancer be prevented?

The best ways to lower the risk of skin cancer is to reduce exposure to intense sunlight.  In the Caribbean the outdoors is the place for work, exercise and relaxation.  Here are some ways to be sun safe when heading outdoors:

 

ü  Avoid direct exposure to the sun between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m when the sun is highest in the sky.

ü  Seek shade, especially in the middle of the day when the sun’s rays are strongest.

ü  Cover up with protective clothing to guard as much skin as possible when you are out in the sun. Choose comfortable clothes made of tightly woven fabrics that you cannot see through when held up to a light.

ü  Use sunscreen and lip balm with broad spectrum protection and a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher even on hazy or overcast days.  Apply a generous amount of sunscreen  to unprotected skin at least 30 minutes before outdoor activities and reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, toweling dry, or sweating.

ü  Cover your head with a wide-brimmed hat, shading your face, ears, and neck. If you choose a baseball cap, remember to protect your ears and neck with sunscreen.

ü  Wear sunglasses with100% UVA and UVB absorption to provide optimal protection for the eyes and the surrounding skin.

ü  Sunscreen doesn’t protect from all UV rays, so don’t use sunscreen as a way to stay out in the sun longer

ü  Follow these practices to protect your skin even on cloudy or overcast days. UV rays travel through clouds.

ü  Avoid other sources of UV light.  UV lights/lamps are dangerous. They also damage your skin.