A12
Hood River News, Saturday, June 20, 2015
healthy hood river
HAHRC BEATS
Help prevent skin cancer risk by protecting your child now
BY CHESEA RUDER
Mid Columbia Children’s Council
File photo
PROTECT CHILDREN from increased risk of skin
cancer later by applying sunscreen now.
Just a few serious sunburns can increase
your child’s risk of skin cancer later in life.
Kids don’t have to be at the pool, beach, or on
vacation to get too much sun. Their skin needs
protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet
(UV) rays whenever they’re outdoors.
Seek shade. UV rays are strongest and most
harmful during midday. So it’s best to plan in-
door activities then. If this is not possible,
seek shade under a tree, an umbrella, or a pop-
up tent. Use these options to prevent sunburn,
and not to seek relief after it has happened.
Cover up. Long-sleeved shirts and long
pants and skirts can protect from UV rays.
Clothes made from tightly woven fabric offer
the best protection. A wet T-shirt offers much
less UV protection than a dry one, and darker
colors may offer more protection than lighter
colors. Some clothing certified under interna-
tional standards comes with information on
its ultraviolet protection factor.
Get a hat. Hats that shade the face, scalp,
ears, and neck are easy to use and give great
protection. Baseball caps are popular among
kids, but they don’t protect their ears and
neck. If your child chooses a cap, be sure to
protect exposed areas with sunscreen.
Wear sunglasses. They protect your child’s
eyes from UV rays, which can lead to cataracts
later in life. Look for sunglasses that wrap
around and block as close to 100% of both
UVA and UVB rays as possible.
Apply sunscreen. Use sunscreen with at
least SPF 15 and UVA as well as UVB protec-
tion every time your child goes outside. For
the best protection, apply sunscreen generous-
ly 30 minutes before going outdoors. Don’t for-
get to protect ears, noses, lips, and the tops of
feet. Take sunscreen with you to reapply dur-
ing the day, especially after your child swims
or exercises. This applies to waterproof and
water-resistant products as well.
■
Follow the directions on the package for
using a sunscreen product on babies less than
6 months old. All products do not have the
same ingredients; if your or your child’s skin
reacts badly to one product, try another one or
call a doctor. Your baby’s best defense against
sunburn is avoiding the sun or staying in the
shade.
Keep in mind, sunscreen is not meant to
allow kids to spend more time in the sun than
they would otherwise. Try combining sun-
screen with other options, like playing in the
shade, to prevent skin damage. By taking ac-
tion now, you can help prevent your child’s
risk of skin cancer later in life!
■
Healthy Active Hood River County (HAHRC)
is our community healthy living coalition. We
promote wellness through increased physical
activity, healthy eating, tobacco use prevention,
behavioral health, prevention of addictions
and policy and environmental change. Join us
at our next meeting, July 28, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at
Providence Hood River Hospital Boardroom.
• Quality • Service • Selection
Before
After
Reunions? Weddings?
People are finding relief from migraines, fibromyalgia, arthritis, anxiety, depression, diabetes,
ADHD, eczema, high cholesterol/blood pressure, asthma, allergies, Rx meds and so much
more ... AND losing 5-15 lbs in just 8 days! www.gethealthywithTNT.com
Explore alternative ways
to provide healthy food,
supplements and body care
items for you and your family
One-stop shopping for natural
and organic products
• Gluten Free Bakery Items
• Free from unnecessary additives
FREE consultation &
1 year membership
fee with wholesale
pricing for ordering
one of our
Starter Packs*
Changing Lives Together — Happier & Healthier
Terry & Teri Bryant 541-490-6087 Independent distributors
*New customers only with coupon, expires 8/20/15.
• Personal care products proven safe
through non-animal testing methods
• Free-range poultry, natural beef, pork
and buffalo in our Meat Department
• Bulk Foods allows you to choose
products with less packaging
Shop HuckleBerry’s Today!
1867 12th St. Hood River • 541.386.1119
Good food: a prescription for good health
Summer brings a garden of eatin’ to the Gorge. With a bounty of choices for fresh produce in stores and farmers
markets, summer is a great time to fi ll up on the fruits and vegetables that everybody needs for good health.
And to make it even easier to add fruits and veggies to your diet, Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital
has some delicious new recipes for you to try. They’re tasty ways to get the nutrients you need to help prevent
health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.
Eat well and stay healthy, with Providence. Call us at 541-387-6342 to get a free Providence
Heart-Healthy Living Guide fi lled with family-friendly recipes and helpful tips. You are
what you eat, so savor the fl avor of healthful food and enjoy a healthy body, for life.
www.providence.org/hoodriver