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An Update on EPA's SunWise Program
he SHADE Foundation and EPA
are proud to announce the 2007
SunWise® with SHADE® National
Poster Contest. This year, the contest
will run nationwide from January 1
through May 1, 2007, in all 50 states
and U.S. territories. Over the past four
years, more than 40,000 students have
submitted posters. Prizes from the
SHADE Foundation include:
• State Winners
$250 savings bond, plus a $500
SHADE grant for the school (some
states might have additional prizes)
• Regional Winners
$500 savings bond, and a $2,500
SHADE grant for the school
• National Winner
A trip for four to Disney World (or
something comparable), and a $5,000
SHADE grant for the school
All state winners will be entered into
regional and national contests. Previous
regional and state prizes have included
a trip to Fenway Park in Boston,
Massachusetts, to throw out the first
pitch of the game, and a
trip to Bristol Motor
Speedway in Bristol,
Tennessee, to start the
race.
Poster submissions should
be original and creative
and incorporate SunWise
Action Steps to prevent
skin cancer and raise sun
safety awareness.
Examples of prevention
and awareness tips pre-
sented on the posters in
the past include:
• Using sunscreen.
• Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and
sunglasses.
• Seeking shade when the sun's ultra-
violet (UV) radiation is most intense,
between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Covering up with full-length clothing
to protect one's skin.
• Checking the UV Index.
Past poster contest winners at Fenway Park in Boston.
To find out more about this year's contest
and to download an official poster guide,
visit the SHADE Foundation's Web site at
.
U
arlier this year, SunWise unveiled its
new logo. You can see the logo in new
documents and on the SunWise Web
site at . Also of
interest, SunWise has trademarked the
term "SunWise" and its logo.
a program that radiates good ideas
A Partnership Program of tfw U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov/sunwise
HIGHLIGHTS
The Truth Behind Vitamin D 2
Sun Safety Legislation for States 3
SunWise Reaches Out to Cities
and Counties 4
SunWise Spotlight: Field Day Sports a
SunWise Message 5
McWane Center Promotes SunWise....6
Wyoming Launches Sun Safe Schools
of Distinction Program 7
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SunWise Monitor
Tke 7>i/tk
t a recent conference, experts
presented some interesting find-
»'„ ings on the relationship between
vitamin D and sun exposure. The con-
ference—the first ever North American
Conference on UV, Vitamin D, and
Health—held in March 2006, brought
together researchers, clinicians, and
public health professionals to discuss
the health effects of vitamin D. Key
findings from the conference include:
• There is strong evidence that UV
exposure from the sun and other
sources is harmful and may con-
tribute to health problems such as
skin cancer, melanoma, and some
cataracts.
• Experts believe that adequate vitamin
D is beneficial to musculoskeletal
health and can help prevent fractures
in the elderly. There is also a grow-
ing body of evidence that vitamin D
might have a positive effect on some
types of cancer—in particular, col-
orectal cancer. Experts are con-
cerned that levels of vitamin D might
be too low in the general population
to achieve these health benefits.
• Vitamin D is obtained through skin
exposure to UVB radiation, and also
through diet (particularly fortified
foods) and supplementation. To
minimize the health risks associated
with UVB exposure, while maximiz-
ing the potential benefits of opti-
mum levels of vitamin D, supple-
mentation and small amounts of
sun exposure are the preferred
methods of obtaining vita-
min D.
• Groups at risk of not
obtaining adequate
amounts of vitamin D
include:
- The elderly.
- Exclusively breast-fed babies.
- Individuals with dark skin pig-
mentation.
- Individuals with limited skin
exposure to the sun (e.g., house-
bound individuals or those who
wear clothing covering most of the
skin for cultural/religious reasons).
- Those living above 37° latitude
during the winter (Canada and
northern United States).
If you are concerned that you might be
deficient in vitamin D, discuss supple-
mentation with your health care practi-
tioner. Current recommendations of
200 lU/day up to age 50, 400 IU for
ages 50 to 70, and 600 IU for those
over age 70, are now considered too
low for optimal health by many experts.
The most appropriate supplementation
level is likely to be some quantity above
these recommendations but below the
safe upper level of 2,000 lU/day for
adults. More research is needed to
determine the optimal amount of vita-
min D supplementation required to pre-
vent health problems.
SunWise would like to reemphasize that
before changing your vitamin D intake,
you should consult your physician.
A
Hat TVick
In July 2006, the SunWise Program received its third Gold Triangle
Award from the American Academy of Dermatology (the Academy). The
award was presented in recognition of the programs new UV Alert, a
joint venture between EPA and the National Weather Service that pro-
vides guidance for locations around the country that are expected to
experience well above normal UV radiation levels on a given day.
The Gold Triangle Award recognizes media, industry, the health commu-
nity, and individuals who further the understanding of dermatological
issues and encourage healthy behavior in skin care. At the 10th annual
awards ceremony, held in San Diego, California, President Bush sent
greetings and congratulated the honorees, and actors Robert Wagner and
Jill St. John (in photo at right) emceed the event. To celebrate the 10-year
anniversary of the awards ceremony, the Academy highlighted EPAs UV
Index and the growth of the SunWise Program.
Linda Rutsch of EPA (center) accepts the Gold
Triangle Award on behalf of the SunWise Program.
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SunWise Monitor
fafety
for ftatef
ne way to increase sun safety aware-
ness is by passing legislation, and
recently two states did just that. In
April 2005, Arizona became the first
state in the nation to mandate that
SunWise be taught in all K-8 public
schools. As a result, more than 75 per-
cent of schools in Arizona are registered
as SunWise partners. The text of the law
reads:
"All public schools shall incorporate
instruction into the existing curricula in
the common school grades on skin can-
cer prevention if the United States
Environmental Protection Agency fur-
nishes a comprehensive program on the
prevention of skin cancer free of charge
to schools. The instruction shall be pro-
vided in an age appropriate manner and
shall include the following components:
1. The basic facts about skin cancer,
including the negative impact of
human exposure to ultraviolet radia-
tion obtained through sunburns and
tanning.
2. A comprehensive set of strategies and
behaviors to reduce the risk of con-
tracting skin cancer."
In addition, in January 2006, the Utah
legislature passed a resolution encourag-
ing Utah schools to educate children
about the risks of sun exposure. This
nonbinding resolution was sent to all
schools in the state and lists statistics
about skin cancer and resources for edu-
cating children. SunWise is listed as one
of the four resources available to schools.
In Utah, more than 30 percent of all K-8
schools are registered as SunWise
schools.
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cancer?
As I soon learned, it was a gradual process. I
have very fair skin to begin with, making me
especially susceptible to sun damage. But in all
likelihood the story of my melanoma really
began when I was 17 years old and wanted to
look good in a white dress at my prom. I
thought I'd look better if I just got a little color,
so I paid a few visits to the local tanning salon.
I liked the results so much that I went back—
again and again over the next three years, work-
ing up to a routine of 4 to 5 tanning bed ses-
sions for 2.0 to 25 minutes each week.
The truth is, I had no idea how bad it was for
me. I was told that getting a "base tan" was
healthier because it allowed one to prevent sun-
burns and tan safely. I thought that I looked
' 9
healthier and prettier with darker skin. 1 wish
I now could go back and prevent what had
happened, but because 1 can't, I have made it
my mission to help others do just that.
After 18 months filled with repeat surgeries and
more doctor visits than 1 can count, I finally
have a clean bill of health. Since becoming Miss
Maryland, I have dedicated myself to spreading
the word about skin cancer—how serious it real-
ly is, how to prevent it, and the importance of
regular screenings. I have had the opportunity to
travel with the Skin Cancer Foundation on its
national skin cancer screening tours, as well as
work with the American Academy of Dermatology
the Joanna Nicolay Melanoma Foundation, and
the National Foundation for Cancer Research to
get this message out. I am also an active member
of the Maryland State Coalition for Skin Cancer
Prevention. I travel to schools and programs
around the state to speak of my personal experi-
ence with the disease and hope that it will help
others to see what they can do to prevent my
obstacles in their own lives.
obstacles in their own uves.
Through my experience I feel driven to spread
awareness about the real risks of skin cancer and
teach those young and old alike to make healthy
choices for the future. I didn't have to tan, I chose
to and it nearly cost me my life. Take a stance
against the pressure and the sun and be proud to
go NATURAL!
Dream BIG!
Brittany Lietz
Miss Maryland 2006
Update: "Mate
* fafety
Kick; Off
After a short break, SunWise is
again working with Major
League Soccer (MLS), the U.S.
Soccer Foundation (USSF), and
the American Academy of
Dermatology (the Academy) to
bring sun safety back to the sport
of soccer. In 2006, EPA produced
public service announcement
(PSA) posters for five teams— DC
United, FC Dallas, Houston
Dynamo, Columbus Crew, and
Real Salt Lake— highlighting the
simple action steps people can
take to prevent skin cancer,
cataracts, and other negative
health effects from overexposure
to the sun.
In addition to the posters, the
Academy provided cleat bags
containing sun safety information
to the first 2,000 fans at 10
games. EPA is grateful for the
opportunity to support the cam-
paign and is looking forward to
another productive campaign in
2007. For more information and
to see copies of all five PSAs, visit
.
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SunWise Monitor
Reackef 0*t to
Citie; a*«sl
new SunWise initiative seeks to
reach even more people with sun
safety messages. The initiative—
SunWise Cities/Communities—is a pilot
program that coordinates and promotes
the use of SunWise educational activi-
ties in school classrooms, informal edu-
cation venues such as science and chil-
dren's museums, and other community-
based organizations. The idea is to rein-
force sun safety messages throughout
the community—not just in K-8 class-
rooms—to get people to change their
behavior when it comes to protecting
themselves from the harmful health
effects of UV exposure.
SunWise Cities - Houston, TX
On August 3, 2005, SunWise joined
Houston Mayor Bill White at the John E
McGovern Museum of Health &
Medical Science in Houston, Texas, to
launch the first SunWise community-
wide initiative—SunWise Cities. The
program is working to teach children
simple steps that will reduce their life-
time risk of skin cancer. To become a
SunWise City, Houston agreed to the
following criteria:
• Encourage residents to practice EPAs
SunWise Action Steps when partici-
pating in outdoor activities.
• Endorse SunWise programs within
schools and informal education pro-
grams, including city parks and recre-
ation, after-school programs, summer
camps, and children's science centers.
• Develop a sun safety policy for city
outdoor workers that includes the
SunWise Action Steps.
• Fromote SunWise Action Steps at all
city-sponsored events and venues.
SunWise Communities - King
County, WA
SunWise Communities—officially
launched in May 2006—builds on the
successful SunWise Cities pilot effort
launched in Houston in 2005. King
County, Washington, was the first
county to officially become SunWise.
On behalf of King County, Executive
Ron Sims:
• Proclaimed May 1 a SunWise Day by
encouraging King County residents
to practice EPAs SunWise Action
Steps when participating in outdoor
activities.
• Sent a letter to all King County
schools encouraging staff and students
to use the free SunWise Tool Kit,
which provides a fun and easy-to-use
sun safety and ozone science curricu-
lum.
• Created a "SunWise Zone" at a local
school to kick off SunWise
Communities in Seattle and to
encourage the student body to be
burn-free during the summer.
SunWise Communities in action at a King
County, Washington, school.
One King County school—Elaine
Middle School—pledged to be SunWise
during the spring and summer of 2006.
After following up with the school, EPA
found that students who took the
pledge were more likely to practice sun
safety during summer 2006 than their
peers who did not take the pledge.
Educate Kiel; on S«* fafety
new set of videos is available to
make learning about sun safety
fun and interesting. As enter-
taining as they are informational, The
Sun Show videos are ideal for elemen-
tary school classrooms. Students will
identify with The Sun Show's hosts and
field reporters—children themselves—
in this pair of videos that simulate two
episodes of a live television morning
show. In a variety of attention-grab-
bing short segments, the news team
uncovers the darker side of sunlight
and reveals simple strategies for pro-
tecting one's skin from dangerous UV
rays. Punctuated by clever surprises,
some hilarious animation, an original
score, and hit song clips, viewers will
find these sun safety lessons very
enjoyable.
To ensure accuracy, Jeff Ashley, M.D., a
dermatologist, and Andrew Manthe,
MPH, CHES, chief of the Skin Cancer
Prevention Program, co-produced the
videos with a panel of consultants that
included several educators and EPAs
very own Linda Rutsch, director of
SunWise.
Accommodating both the lower and
upper elementary levels, two versions
are offered: The Sun Show — Ages 6-8
and The Sun Show — Ages 9-11, each
including a teacher's guide. For addi-
tional detail and to view trailers, visit
.
-------
SunWise Monitor
aren Delgado and her 7th grade
health class at Union Township
School in Hampton, New Jersey,
undertook an effort to keep people
SunWise at the school's annual field day.
The physical education teachers had
been asked to set up a field day for
grades 1 through 8, and the superinten-
dent wanted it to be an all-day affair
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the direct
sun!! Karen communicated her sun
safety concerns to the superintendent,
the school nurse, physical education
teachers, and the principal. To address
the concerns, the school nurse sent a
note out to the students' parents
informing them about the health effects
of overexposure to UV, and the school
was able to institute sun safety meas-
ures, including setting up a "tent" for
the nurse's station to keep people in the
shade.
"It was amazing to me to find out how
many adults are unaware of this health
issue. I put information in all the teach-
ers' mailboxes as well. We were success-
ful in getting the students to wear sun-
screen, hats, and sunglasses. It ended up
being a partially cloudy day, which in a
way was worse—except for the 7th
graders who KNEW the dangers! The
adults kept saying, 'See, you were wor-
ried for nothing!' I don't know
how many times I repeated that
heat and UV light are two different
issues, and that UV is present even
on cooler, cloudy days! The neat
thing is that I had the UV Frisbee
with me. The 7th graders kept
checking it...and it is impressive to
see it change when, to us, it looks
as if there is 'no' sun shining," said
Karen.
In addition to the success at the field
day, Karen's classes gave presentations to
a few of the younger grades. For the 1st
grade, the students presented a song
incorporating "slip, slop, slap, and
wrap," and made the sunglasses that are
in the SunWise Tool Kit. Each partici-
pant received a certificate of
SunWisdom.
For the 4th graders, some of Karen's
students presented a skit, showed a
PowerPoint presentation, and per-
formed a song. Some students even
made up their own puzzles based on
the SunWise vocabulary and distributed
them to the 4th graders.
The class also distributed sun safety
information to each class in the
younger grades and enclosed a
SunWise pencil and UV-sensitive
bracelet from the Women's
Dermatologic Society (see box below)
to the youngest ones before field day,
so the teachers could use it on that day.
The program has been a huge success.
"I was handed the job of teaching
health this year, in addition to 7th
grade science," Karen said. "The
SunWise Tool Kit has saved me! I was
trying to plan how we could end the
year with summer safety. I usually do
some solar energy and other alternative
energy sources learning/teaching at the
end of the year in science class, so this
is a perfect integration!"
• more information:
Karen Delgado
Jmon lownsnip bcnoc
165 Perryville Road
Hampton, NJ 08827
fafety
A program sponsored by the
Women's Dermatologic Society
(WDS) is helping to promote sun safety
to communities around the country.
WDS's "Families Play Safe in the
Sun" —a broad-based national cam-
paign made possible through a gener-
ous grant from the 3M Foundation-
includes a wide range of educational
and outreach programs in 15 commu-
nities across the United States. The
program offers free skin cancer screen-
ings, educational materials, and
dynamic sun protection activities
geared towards the needs and inter-
ests of different communities. Led by
WDS member dermatologists, the
campaign is designed to help spread
the message of skin cancer prevention
and proper skin health. SunWise pro-
vides materials to WDS for the "Adopt-
a-School" component of these events
and sends materials to teachers who
want to learn more about sun safety.
For more information about Families Play
Safe in the Sun, visit the program's Web
site at .
Linda Rutsch of EPA at a "Families Play
Safe in the Sun" event.
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SunWise Monitor
Center Promote;
or the past three years Jan
Mattingly, vice president of educa-
tion, and the staff at the Me Wane
Science Center in Birmingham,
Alabama, have been busy promoting
SunWise in numerous arenas. The cen-
ter has featured SunWise prominently
in its annual "A Clean Air Affair"—a
community activity that educates the
public on ways to reduce ozone and
promote environmentally sound prac-
tices and sun safety
The science center has also conducted
more than 10 SunWise workshops,
where it has trained countless educators
on how to implement SunWise in their
schools. In addition, Jan and her direc-
tor of science education and school rela-
tions, Rachel Pace, presented informa-
tion about SunWise at the Alabama
Science Teachers Association Conference
held at the center last year and will do
so again this year. More than 700 ele-
mentary, middle, and high school teach-
ers attend this conference.
The center holds an annual Teacher
Appreciation Day, and this year, it dis-
tributed SunWise Tool Kits to teachers
who attended. Finally, Jan has presented
with SunWise at the Association of
Science-Technology Centers (ASTC)
Conference for the past two years. ASTC
is an organization of science centers and
museums dedicated to furthering the
public understanding of science among
increasingly diverse audiences. ASTC
encourages excellence and innovation in
informal science learning by serving and
linking its members worldwide and
advancing their common goals.
Clearly Jan has been busy. SunWise staff
would like to thank Jan, Rachel, and the
McWane Science Center for their stead-
Jan Mattingly from the McWane Science
Center presents a SunWise message.
fast support of the program. We look
forward to working with the center to
promote SunWise in the future.
CDC
n 2006, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
released a new document that serves
as a supporting piece to the Guidelines
for School Programs to Prevent Skin
Cancer, published in 2002. The docu-
ment, Shade Planning for America's
Schools, explains the dangers of UV
radiation, the easy steps to prevent
overexposure to UV, and how to use
shade to decrease UV exposure. It pro-
vides shade planning information, tools
for conducting a formal shade audit,
and case studies from previous success
stories. The SunWise Programs collabo-
ration with the SHADE Foundation is
highlighted on pages 31 to 33 of the
CDC document. To download a copy,
visit the new "SunWise Resources for
Educators" Web page at
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SunWise Monitor
f D
n summer 2006, the Wyoming
Department of Health launched a new
voluntary program for Wyoming
schools. The Wyoming Sun Safe Schools
of Distinction Program was formed in an
attempt to raise awareness and enhance
school policies regarding sun safety.
Modeled after the highly successful
Tobacco-Free Schools Program in the
state, a school must meet a variety of sun
safety criteria to earn the Sun Safe School
of Distinction award. Schools that meet
the criteria will receive a plaque from the
state, a mention in the news, and recog-
nition on Wyoming's Comprehensive
Cancer Control Consortium Web site.
Once every school within a district has
signed on, the school district will be hon-
ored and receive a district award as well.
To earn the award, schools must:
1. Include skin cancer and sun protec-
tion education in school curricula
(SunWise is one program that meets
this criterion).
2. Promote outdoor measures to
decrease UV exposure, such as wear-
ing hats, sunglasses, and protective
clothing while outdoors; bringing
and wearing sunscreen at school;
Promoting sun
safety in
Wyoming.
and seeking shade during peak
hours of sun exposure.
3. Participate in the ongoing evaluation
of policy development, program
implementation, and program out-
comes through the Wyoming Sun
Safety Survey.
In addition to the above criteria, the
program also encourages schools to pro-
mote sun safety among the staff and the
community at large.
For more information on Wyoming's
program, please contact Kimberly
Rogers at the Wyoming Department of
Health at (307) 777-8609 or
.
Mat
Have To 0o Witk
Cancer
In 2005, SunWise developed a
I tool called EnviroFlash UV, which
sends subscribers an e-mail con-
taining the daily UV Index forecast
for their city or ZIP Code. You can
also subscribe to receive e-mails
only on days when there is a UV
Alert for your area. The UV Alert
lets you know when UV intensity in
your city or town will be unseason-
ably high. E-mails are sent out in
the early evening so you will have
plenty of time to prepare for your
next day's activities. It's easy to
subscribe and unsubscribe, so if
you'll be traveling for a few days,
and you will have access to your
e-mail, you can receive the local
UV Index wherever you are, or you
can just check the daily forecast on
the UV Index home page. For
more information, visit
.
Congressional spouses Lisa McGovern
(left) and Stephene Moore (right) at
the 2006 Kansas School Nurse
Conference.
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SunWise Monitor
1007
March 13-1 7, 2007: American Alliance for Health, Physical
Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) Annual
Conference, Baltimore, MD
March 29-April 1, 2007: National Science Teachers
Association (NSTA) National Conference, St. Louis, MO
April 10-13, 2007: National Catholic Education Association
(NCEA), Baltimore, MD
May 4-6, 2007: New England School Nurse Conference
(NESNC), Portsmouth, NH
June 21-27, 2007: American Library Association (ALA) Annual
Conference, Washington, DC
June 25-27, 2007: National Association of Health Education
Centers (NAHEC) Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA
June 28-July 1, 2007: National Association of School Nurses
(NASN) Annual Conference, Nashville, TN
June 30-July 2, 2007: National Education Association (NEA)
National Conference, Philadelphia, PA
July 12-15, 2007: American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
QuEST Conference, Washington, DC
October 11-13, 2007: National Council of Teachers in
Mathematics (NCTM) Regional Conference, Richmond, VA
October 18-20, 2007: NSTA Regional Conference, Detroit, Ml
November 8-10, 2007: National Middle School Association
(NMSA), Houston, TX
December 6-8, 2007: NSTA Regional Conference,
Birmingham, AL
tke Pate
September 16, 2007, is International Ozone Day and also marks
the 20th Anniversary of the Signing of the Montreal Protocol.
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