DeCroce: Be Sun Smart for the 4th of July

With temperatures soaring into the 90s this holiday week, encourages parents and young adults to protect themselves from overexposure to the sun.

DeCroce, a member of the General Assembly's Women and Children's committee and an advocate for better education on sun exposure and proper use of sunscreens, says that while most of the recent media and political focus has been on tanning parlors, there is a significant health danger from overexposure to the sun while at the beach or simply at a back yard barbecue.

“I want everyone to have an enjoyable 4th of July holiday, but I want it to be a safe one as well," she said. "That not only means driving safely and drinking  plenty of water, it means taking precaution when out in the searing sun.

“Don’t drink and drive, and don’t stay out in the sun too long."

DeCroce said common sense precautions include bringing a shirt and hat to the pool or beach and applying the right kind of sunscreen in the proper amounts.

“Not all sunscreens protect the body from skin cancer, so it’s important to know about the sunscreen you are using and how well it will protect you,” she said. 

She added that most people only apply a fraction of the amount of sunscreen they need to protect their skin. And many do not know what to do after they get a sunburn.

DeCroce suggested that people consult multiple sources for information on sunscreens. One source she recommended is the website WebMD, which has information on how to apply sunscreens, what type of sun protection people need and how to treat overexposed skin.

Above all, the assemblywoman asserted that people need to apply common sense when it comes to sun protection.

Noting a recent case in Washington state, in which two young girls were severely sunburned at a school Olympics event because teachers were not supposed to apply sunscreen to students, DeCroce said that adults should not only protect their children and themselves, but should watch out for other children on the beach or at the pool as well.

“If you see a child turning beet red on the beach, the common sense thing to do is try to protect the child,” the assemblywoman said.  “Put a hat or a T-shirt on the child and ask his or her parents if it is okay to apply sunscreen.  

"A little intervention could save a child from the tortures of overexposure to the sun.”