News
Skin Cancer Prevention and Outdoor Recreation
By Danell J. Haines, PhD, Director, National Research Institute for College Recreational Sports & Wellness, in Partnership with NIRSA
 On September 23, I had the opportunity to represent NIRSA at the National Institute of Health Sun Safety Summit for Skin Cancer Prevention. Organizations with members and participants who receive a significant amount of sun exposure were invited to attend. The purpose of the summit was to provide education on the prevalence and prevention of skin cancer. It was important for NIRSA to be represented at the Sun Safety Summit because of the number of college recreational sports participants who receive sun exposure while participating in our programs, and those health outcomes related to repeated sun exposure.
Our program participants who recreate in the sun need to be aware of sun safety because:
- One in five American will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
- One in four people who develop skin cancer is under the age of 40.
- One person dies every hour from skin cancer, primarily melanoma.
- According to the American Cancer Society, more than one million new cases of skin cancer are expected to be diagnosed this year.
- Skin damage is cumulative; a sunburn this week could take 20 years or more to become skin cancer.
- Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. There are more new cases of skin cancer each year than the combined incidences of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer.
- The sun's UV rays can damage skin in as little as 15 minutes. Ultraviolet light is a primary risk factor for skin cancer.
- On average, children get three times more exposure than adults. One blistering sunburn can double a child's lifetime risk of developing skin cancer.
It is important that we educate outdoor recreational sports participants on the dangers of sun exposure and ways to protect oneself from the sun. The following preventative measures are suggested:
- Seek Shade. Whenever possible, stay in the shade and stay under cover.
- Always Use Sunscreen. Apply waterproof sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 or higher on your exposed skin. Reapply sunscreen every two hours especially when playing or working outdoors.
- Wear Sunglasses.
- Wear a Hat. A wide-brimmed hat is best because it covers your eyes, ears, face and the back of your neck. If you do not have a wide-brimmed hat, another hat, such as a baseball hat, is fine as long as you rub sunscreen on your ears and face.
- Cover Up. Wear tightly woven long-sleeved shirts and full-length clothing if possible. If this is not possible, wear sunscreen on exposed areas of your body.
As administrators and programmers of outdoor recreation, it is extremely important that we provide education on the dangers of sun exposure and ways to be safe in the sun.
To receive additional information on skin cancer and sun safety visit these Web sites:
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