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Samantha Hayes reporting Protecting your skin from the sun isn't a new message. But health workers say the message, like suncreen, just isn't sinking in. So they're now using a more aggressive approach.
You may have seen some of the billboards around town, very direct, sort of in your face messages about protecting kids from sun exposure.
Public Service Announcement/Courtesy Utah Cancer Action Network: "THE FOLLOWING COMMERCIAL SHOWS CHILDREN BEING EXPOSED TO THE WORLD'S LARGEST ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION LEAK. DUE TO ITS GRAPHIC NATURE, PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED."
The not so subtle message here is stay out of the sun.
Janet Heins/ Utah Cancer Action Network: "WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THE ATTENTION OF THE PARENTS SO THAT THEY DON'T TAKE THE SUN LIGHTLY, THEY DO PAY ATTENTION, AND REMEMBER SKIN CANCER PREVENTION IS A YEAR ROUND HABIT."
SAMANTHA HAYES/EYEWITNESS NEWS: "HEALTH WORKERS WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE JUST GET LOTS OF SUNNY DAYS, WE'RE AT A HIGHER ELEVATION, AND MANY OF US HAVE FAIR SKIN."
Bruce Henderson/Salt Lake County Recreation: "IN OCTOBER I FOUND OUT I HAD SQUIMOUS CELL CARCINOMA."
Bruce Henderson was a competitive swimmer and a lifeguard for many years.
"BACK THEN, IN THE 60'S, NO ONE KNEW OR AT LEAST WEREN'T TALKING ABOUT IT."
Now, in his hat and long-sleeved shirt, Bruce makes it a point to show young sun worshippers his own scars.
BRUCE HENDERSON: "IN MY CASE IT METASTISIZED INTO MY LYMPH NODES AND I ENDED UP HAVING MAJOR SURGERY ON MY NECK, WHERE THEY TOOK OUT 40-SOME LYMPH NODES AND A LOT OF MUSCLE TISSUE AND EVERYTHING ELSE."
It seems many are taking heed, lathering up before laying out. But doctors say even a gradual tan is comparable to another bad habit.
Dr. Glen Bowen/ Dermatologist: "IT'S KIND OF THE SAME ARGUEMENT-- DO I SMOKE CIGARETTES OR FILTERED CIGARETTES?"
And think of clothing as the fullproof filter, rather than suncreen.
DR. GLEN BOWEN/DERMATOLOGIST: "AND IT'S NOT THAT THE OZONE LAYER IS THINNER OR THAT THE SUN IS BRIGHTER. IT'S THAT PEOPLE DON'T PROTECT THEIR SKIN AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO."
Every thousand feet above sea level UV radiation increases by seven percent. So Dr. Bowen says think of it like this...people on the top of Mt. Timpanogos will burn 77 percent faster than on Malibu Beach.
