| Greetings!
HealthySV, your Healthy Maine Partnership, located at Sebasticook Valley Hospital is pleased to provide you with resources to better support your valuable work force. |
| Study Links Tanning Bed Use to Increased Risk of Melanoma |
A study funded by the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society was designed to provide a more definitive answer to the question of a link between skin cancer and tanning bed use. The researchers gathered data on people who use tanning beds including the devices used and personal risk factors.
According to the findings, people who had ever used an indoor tanning device were about 75% more likely to have developed melanoma. Frequent users - defined as using a tanning device for at least 5 hours, at least 100 sessions, or at least 10 years - were 2.5 to 3 times more likely to develop melanoma than those who had never used them. The risk went up with increasing tanning bed use and was elevated regardless of the type of device.
For more information on this student, please visit the American Cancer Society News Center:
ACS News Center |
| Seminar - Managing the Cost of Asthma in Maine | Friday, June 25, 2010
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon
Holiday Inn by the Bay, Downtown
Jointly sponsored by the Maine Asthma Program and the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council
About the Program:
Approximately 10% of Maine citizens have asthma. When properly managed and treated, most of the serious consequences of asthma can be avoided. Unmanaged and untreated, however, asthma is a serious, and expensive, health issue.
Maine employers bear a disproportionate share of the expense associated with asthma. Health care costs, medication expenses, employee absenteeism, and employee "presenteeism" (when an employee may be present but is less productive due to illness or concern for a family member) all add to the financial burden that must be supported by employers. Many of these costs, however, are preventable.
This half day program, sponsored jointly by the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council and the Maine Asthma Program, will present practical steps employers can take to reduce the costs associated with asthma in the workplace:
*Tips for improving health-care coverage to promote better asthma management and reduce the cost of medications for employees and their family members
*Tips for improving the workplace environment to minimize pollutants and common asthma triggers
*Tips for implementing workplace wellness programs, to support employees in better managing their asthma.
1) A Medical Overview of Asthma in the Workplace
Leslie Walleigh, MD, Maine CDC
Environmental & Occupational Health Program, Augusta
2) Presentation of Recent Report by the Asthma Regional Council -- Asthma: A Business Case for Employers and Health Care Purchasers
Stacey Chacker, Director, Asthma Regional
3) Management Practices that Eliminate Triggers and
Contaminants in the Workplace
Elise Pechter, Industrial Hygienist, Massachusetts
Department of Health
4) Maine Resources for Maine Businesses on How to Implement
Recommended Practices to Reduce the Burden of Asthma on
Their Business
Presenters - TBA
*Human Resource Personnel responsible for decisionmaking on
health care for employees. (negotiating benefits covered by health insurance)
*Worksite Health & Safety Personnel responsible for facility
management and operations. (reducing things that impact those with asthma)
*Workplace Wellness Professionals (to promote healthy asthma
management practices by employees and family members).
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| Smoke-Free Outdoor Dining in Maine |
In September 2009, Maine became the 3rd State in the country to adopt a low prohibiting smoking in outdoor dining areas. The new law prohibits smoking in all outdoor eating establishments where food and drink is served to the public for consumption on the premises.
Smoke-free laws protect employees as well as patrons. Secondhand smoke is a known cause of lung cancer, heart disease, low birth-weight births, chronic lung ailments such as bronchitis and asthma, as well as other health complications. Exposure to secondhand smoke results in at least 38,000 annual deaths in the US and over one million illnesses in children.
Support of smoke-free laws among Maine restaurant and bar owners is increasing as they recognize that the laws can have a positive impact on the health of their business. In fact, nationwide studies have shown that smoke-free laws often produce positive economic impact instead of hurting profits.
To help inform Mainers and visits of these ordinances, the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine is distributing free laminated signs and static clings through local Healthy Maine Partnerships, like Healthy SV!
You can also obtain more information by contacting your Local HMP - Healthy SV at 487-3890 x2733. |
| Wellness Tip - Sun Safety 101 - from the American Cancer Society | | Follow these practical steps to stay sun-safe -- they provide the best protection when used together.
Cover up - When you are out in the sun, wear clothing to protect as much skin as possible. The ideal sun-protective fabrics are lightweight, comfortable, and protect against exposure even when wet.
Use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher -
Experts recommend products with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. The SPF number represents the level of protection against UVB rays provided by the sunscreen -- a higher number means more protection. Be sure to read the label before you buy.
Use 1 ounce of sunscreen (a "palmful") to cover your arms, legs, neck, and face. For best results, reapply every 2 hours -- even more if you are swimming or sweating. Don't forget to protect your lips by using a lip balm with SPF. And don't skip it just because it looks overcast outside: UV light still comes through on hazy days.
Wear a hat - A hat with at least a 2- to 3-inch brim all around is ideal to protect your neck, ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp.
Wear sunglasses that block UV rays - Invest in a pair of wrap-around sunglasses with at least 99% UV absorption to block damaging UVA and UVB light.
Limit direct sun exposure during midday - UV rays are most intense during the middle of the day, usually between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm. It's best to plan your outdoor activities outside that timeframe, if possible.
Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps - Tanning lamps give out UVA and frequently UVB rays, as well. Both UVA and UVB rays can cause serious long-term skin damage, and both contribute to skin cancer. Our advice: skip the tanning bed and try a bronzing lotion or self-tanning cream.
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| BBQ Safely |
- Designate the grill area a "No Play Zone."
Keep children and pets away until grill equipment is completely cooled.
Position your grill at least 10 feet away from any objects, including your house, shrubs and bushes.
Always stand by the grill when cooking.
Use only starter fluid made for barbeque grills.
Check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line before using a gas grill to be sure it is working properly and not leaking.
Never use a match to check for leaks. If you detect a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don't attempt to light the grill again until the leak is fixed.
Never bring a BBQ grill indoors, or into any unventilated space. This is both a fire and carbon monoxide poisoning hazard. |
| Learn CPR and How to Use an AED at SVH | |
Sebasticook Valley Hospital (SVH) offers CPR/AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and First Responder Training.
For more information or to register, contact the Education Department at 487-3890 extension 2731. The TTY number is 487-4590. |
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For additional resources visit:
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Technical assistance on any of the above issues is provided free by HealthySV, your local Healthy Maine Partnership. Please contact us so we can assist you in supporting your employees.
Sincerely,
Karen Hawkes, Director
Healthy SV
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| Featured Article | | June is National Sun Safety Month |
Spending time outdoors is part of a healthy, active life. But whether you enjoy tennis, hiking, gardening, or running, take some precautions when you're out in the sun.
Skin Cancer Facts:
This year, more than 1,000,000 people will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer. Skin cancer is the fastest growing cancer and affects more people than the prostate, breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers combined.
In 2009 Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, accounted for approximately 68,000 of the reported million new cases and 8,650 skin cancer deaths.
One in five children will grow up to develop some form of skin cancer.
What You Should Know
There are certain risk factors that may increase the likelihood of skin cancer:
Fair complexion, including light colored eyes and hair;
unprotected or prolonged exposure to UV radiation;
Family history of melanoma;
Multiple or atypical moles;
Severe sunburns as a child;
Occupational exposure to coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic or radium;
Your risk of sunburns may be increased if you have a suppressed immune system or take medications that increase sun sensitivity (Consult your doctor or pharmacist).
For more information visit:
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| FOLLOW US!!! | |
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HealthySV
 Karen Hawkes
Director
447 Main Street
Pittsfield, ME 04967
(207)487-3890 ext. 2733
www.healthysv.org
Please visit our website for more information and resources including the Healthy Maine Works Worksite Wellness Initiative.
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| What is your Sun Safe IQ? | |
Are you Sun Safe every day? Take this 9 question on-line quiz to find out. Take the Sun Safety Quiz!
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