Summertime may be when the living is easy, but all that recreation, play and relaxation brings some serious health risks. Chevron Phillips Chemical focuses heavily on workplace and operational safety, yet there’s another important concern at this time of the year: summertime safety.
Summer of Safety is CPChem’s seasonal campaign to bring awareness and information about the potential risks and proactive measures everyone can take to stay healthy and happy this summer.
Prevention is key, and Summer of Safety encourages everyone to prevent sun-related health risks by learning what to watch out for and what to do in advance.
Summer of Safety Tips
- Acclimatization: Give yourself time to get used to the warmer conditions.
- Stay cool and hydrated: Take regular breaks in cool areas and drink lots of water.
- Wear sunscreen: Reduce risk from harmful UV rays with sunscreen, which helps prevent sun damage and skin cancer. Use one with at least a 30 SPF and reapply every two hours.
- Monitor PPE: Safety gear can increase your body temperature. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, long-sleeved shirts and long pants to provide a barrier to sun damage.
Skin Cancer Prevention
Memorial Day is marks the start of summer fun. Start your Memorial Day holiday by observing the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention urges everyone to take steps to help reduce the rising rates of skin cancer from overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays:
- Stay out of the sun during peak hours: The hours between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. are when the sun’s rays are strongest.
- Watch the glare: Look out for areas like water and sand that reflect the damaging rays.
- Check the UV index: The Ultraviolet Index measures ultraviolet radiation on a 1 to 11+ scale. Any index over 5 is considered high, and the higher the index, the more sun protection you need.
- Skip tanning: UV radiation, both natural and artificial (such as tanning beds) increases your risk of developing skin cancer, cataracts and corneal burns. It also leads to premature aging and wrinkles.
Skin Cancer Facts
- Skin cancer causes approximately 8,000 deaths per year.
- Melanoma can appear anywhere on the body, even those that are not exposed to the sun.
- Watch for a discolored, misshapen, or uneven mole. Any changes in existing moles should be reported to your dermatologist.
- In 2023 about 97,610 new melanoma cases will be diagnosed. Melanoma causes 75% of deaths from skin cancer.
- Many skin cancers are 95% curable with early detection and treatment. The longer the cancer grows, the greater the risk of death from the disease.
- Ninety percent of melanomas can be spotted without magnification. Examine your own skin between visits to your dermatologist.