Sun Safety Campaign for Kids Launches in El Dorado Hills
(Placerville, CA) - With summer right around the corner, agencies and organizations in El Dorado County are teaming up to spread the word about the importance of sun safety. The El Dorado County Public Health Division, El Dorado Hills Community Services District, Marshall Medical Center and El Dorado Community Health Centers are partnering to promote skin cancer prevention and awareness beginning in April through the summer months in 2018.
According to El Dorado County Health Officer, Dr. Nancy Williams, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S., accounting for almost fifty percent of all cancer cases. "The good news is that nearly ninety percent of skin cancers can be prevented by protection from the sun's rays, or ultraviolet (UV) rays," said Williams.
While everyone should be careful when they are exposed to the sun's rays, children are especially vulnerable. "We want to promote good sun safety habits for everyone, particularly children," said Williams. "The earlier good habits start, the more likely we are to continue them throughout life. We are using the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention's 'Slip, Slop, Slap & Wrap' campaign again this year to encourage kids to slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, wrap on sunglasses, and seek shade, especially between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.," said Williams.
El Dorado Hills Community Services District Aquatic staff and pool users will be encouraged to practice sun safety through the launch of a sun safety lesson plan, adopted from the evidence-based POOL COOL program, at the start of each swim lesson. "Be Sun Safe" signs will be placed around the Community Pool and two sunscreen stations will be available to pool users.
April Pool's Day, a community water safety event, will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2018, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the El Dorado Hills Community Pool located at 1021 Harvard Way in El Dorado Hills. The event is free to the public and includes water and sun safety information, games and activities, and public swim. The sun safety campaign will run while the El Dorado Hills Community Pool is open to the public, with summer swim season formally starting on May 12, 2018.
"The El Dorado Hills Community Services District is committed to improving the quality of life for residents through responsible leadership and by providing superior services and facilities. Many residents enjoy the Community Pool in the summer. Providing skin cancer education and preventative resources—like shade structures and sunscreen—are just a few ways the District is fulfilling its mission and helping residents stay safe and healthy this summer," said Kevin Loewen, General Manager, El Dorado Hills Community Services District.
For more sun safety tips and information on the campaign, including ways other organizations can promote sun safety, visit www.welldorado.org or call Kristin Tornincasa at (530) 642-7132.
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Photo courtesy of the El Dorado Hills Community Services District