News You Can Use

May 23, 2008

May is Melanoma Awareness Month

As you head out for the unofficial kickoff of summer activities, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is reminding us that sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers, including melanoma.

Yet, more than one million people will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year and one in five Americans will get skin cancer in the course of a lifetime, according to the AAD. Research reveals the following:

Basal cell and squamous carcinomas are the two most common forms of skin cancer and are easily treated if detected early.
More than 75 percent of skin cancer deaths are from melanoma.
One American dies of melanoma almost every hour (every 62 minutes).
In 2008, it is expected that 8,420 deaths will be attributed to melanoma – 5,400 men and 3,020 women.

The Academy wants us to "Be Sun Smart" about our time outdoors. Seek shade when the sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. As a rule of thumb, if your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade. Lather on a water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 with broad-spectrum protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply every 2 hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.

Avoid tanning beds, in favor of a sunless self-tanning product and sunscreen. Consult with the AAD for more sun smart tips.

International Long Distance Telephone Scam Pops Up in PA

If you receive a phone or text message asking you to call a long distance number to confirm a lottery or sweepstakes prize, the contact may actually be part of an international long distance telephone scam, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (OAG). Another variation on the scam asks consumers to call a long distance number in order to get information regarding an injured or hospitalized relative.

The return call is placed unknowingly to an international long-distance number which racks up hundreds of dollars in per-minute calls. The scammers try to get callers to divulge personal or financial information. Callers who do not share information are likely to incur massive long distance phone bills.

Scams have originated from Jamaica and area code 876; the Cayman Islands and 345; the British Virgin Islands and 284, and the Dominican Republic and 809, among others. The OAG recommends calling directory assistance or an operator to verify the location of an unfamiliar number and inquire about per-minute charges to call that number.

If you believe you may have been the victim of a phone scam, file a complaint with the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection. Consumers may contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555.

PA Celebrates Hiking Week 2008

Whether you are a novice and opt for a short walk around a lake or you happen to be an old hand at more strenuous hiking, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources (DC&NR) and the Keystone Trails Association are encouraging everyone to participate in Hiking Week 2008.

The May 24 – June 1, 2008 recognition of the benefits of hiking, will be punctuated with nearly one hundred hikes. Choose a hike as short as a half a mile that focuses on frogs or opt for a 3-day intermediate back packing trip allowing you to study the geology, plant life, and the fascinating history of a national forest. If your weekends are full, weekday and evening hikes are also offered. Choose by region or date.

The DC&NR assists outdoor enthusiasts with hiking plans, as well as more than 30 other fresh air activities for a summer full of fun. Pennsylvania offers opportunities for orienteering, rock climbing, rollerblading, and whitewater boating, among others.

Beef Month & Safe Grilling

Just as we get ready to fire up the grill for Memorial Day, Pennsylvania recognizes Beef Month and the state's Department of Agriculture shares a few helpful tips. Pennsylvania's beef industry contributes nearly $2 billion to the state's economy each year, thanks to its 28,000 producers.

The Agriculture Department has developed a set of food safety tips by month to guide consumers through the holidays and seasonal considerations. May focuses on grilling tips for the summer and cooking meat to the appropriate temperature.

Keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot.
Keep your refrigerator's temperature at 40 degrees F or lower — in the summer it may need to be adjusted lower to maintain it at 40 degrees F.
When running errands to include food shopping, carry a cooler in your car and transfer perishables to the iced cooler.
Shop for refrigerated and frozen foods last.
Clean cutting boards with a solution of one teaspoon of chlorine bleach to a quart of water and soak the boards for a few minutes then rinse with clean water and pat dry.

You will also find information that is helpful no matter the season. For example, February's tips focus on code dating and what you need to know to avoid spoiled foods. Differentiate between types of code dating, including "sell by", "best if used by", and "use by" whether preparing a picnic for a neighborhood gathering or dinner for the family.

Swimming Pools and Bathing Places Prepare for Summer

Increasingly warm weather means pools are being prepared for opening day. Pennsylvania strictly regulates the operation of public pools, hot tubs, and spas to avoid exposure to Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs), according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH).

RWIs may bring on a variety of symptoms, including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic and wound infection. Diarrhea is the most commonly reported RWI.

You can contribute to the safe operation of your favorite public pool by committing to the PDH's "PLEAs" for promoting healthy swimming.

Please don't swim if you have diarrhea. This is especially important for kids in diapers. The germs can spread in the water and make others sick.
Please don't swallow the water. Avoid getting water in your mouth.
Please practice good hygiene. Take a shower before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.
Please take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Waiting to hear "I have to go" may mean it is too late.

The Department completes the list of "Pleas" and provides links to more healthy swimming information, including drowning prevention information. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is also warning swimmers about the dangers of exposed drain grates as hair and body parts may become trapped causing injuries and death.

2008 Stay Out – Stay Alive Campaign Kick Off

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DC&NR) is kicking off the 2008 "Stay Out - Stay Alive" campaign to warn people about the dangers of trespassing in mines and quarries. Thirty-one people died in the U.S. during 2007 while trespassing at mines and quarries; one of those was in Pennsylvania.

While the curious may be drawn to a quarry for a summer swim, DC&NR says water conditions in a quarry are deceiving and unpredictable. A number of conditions and factors render quarry swimming unsafe for even the best of swimmers:

Water temperatures drop dramatically just beneath the surface, causing swimmers to get severe muscle cramps or inhale water and drown.
Sheer cliffs are often unstable and can disintegrate, causing climbers to fall.
Abandoned equipment, trash, automobiles and buildings lurk just beneath the surface.
Steep cliffs and remote locations make it very difficult for rescuers to enter the site and save lives.
There are no lifeguards in abandoned quarries.

Be sure to teach your children about the dangers of mines and quarries with help from the Just for Kids webpage for DEP.