Pool Cool puts sun safety first.

Did you know that one blistering sunburn during childhood can double your risk of developing melanoma later in life? We might not think of the sun as something that can harm our bodies, but facts from the American Cancer Society prove otherwise.

The organization estimates that in 2004, about one million new cases of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, and about 59,350 new cases of malignant melanoma will be diagnosed. It also expects that skirt cancer will claim the lives of about 9,800 Americans. Non-melanoma skin cancers, such as basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, have low rates of death, but they cause considerable damage and disfigurement if left untreated.

NRPA recognizes the need to promote sun safety, and the field of parks and recreation knows that sun safety programs can have a positive impact on prevention. Thus, NRPA has partnered with a research team at the Rollins School of Public Health, at Emory University, to implement POOL COOL and evaluate its effects when used over a wide range of locations.

POOL COOL is a research-based program that was evaluated in 1998-2000, with a grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alter evaluating the participants in the program in both Hawaii and Massachusetts, results showed that swimming pools implementing the POOL COOL had more protected pool environments, and that children and parents improved their sun protection habits at the conclusion of the program. In October 2003 the CDC's Community Guide Task Force published recommendations in the "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report"--that prevention programs in recreational and tourism settings can be successful in motivating people to wear hats and other garments to limit sun exposure. POOL COOL's demonstrated success was a key Factor behind this recommendation. The goal of POOL COOL is to teach children sun safety while they learn how to swim.

This summer, 485 pools around the country are integrating the POOL COOL curriculum into existing swimming lessons. The lessons are approximately five minutes in length for eight different lessons. They focus on covering up, seeking shade, using sunscreen properly and avoiding staying outside too long during peak sun hours. The program aims to increase awareness, motivation, and sun protection practices among children ages 5-10 who take swimming lessons, their parents/ caregiver, aquatics staff and other pool users. The POOL COOL program teaches kids about the dangers of overexposure to the sun and encourages them to develop healthy habits for a lifetime.

NRPA is currently working on this program with Karen Glanz of the Rollins School of Public Health's Department of Behavioral Sciences & Health Education at Emory University in Georgia. Glanz has been instrumental in cancer research and the design of sun safety protocols, and she is the principal investigator for the POOL COOL diffusion study. "Diffusion" is the process by which innovations spread from one locale or one social group to another, and a diffusion effort is comprised for four main elements: an innovation, communication, a social system and it occurs over a period of time. The outcomes of the POOL COOL diffusion study will be increased knowledge of cancer prevention programs in community settings and their long term maintenance and sustainability. The study will further contribute to a greater understanding of skin cancer prevention behaviors of individuals and agencies/organizations.

Are you looking to make your facilities and programs Sun Safe and teach skin cancer prevention? POOL COOL is available to interested pools now, including those that were unable to participate in the diffusion study.

The NRPA/POOL COOL Sun Safety Tool Kit is available now to use at any aquatic facility. Log onto www.nrpa.org to purchase your NRPA/POOL COOL Sun Safety Tool Kit or e-mail us at programs @nrpa.org.

Skin Cancer Facts:

* Skin Cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States and comprises almost 50 percent of ALL cancer cases.

* 40-50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will get skin cancer at least once.

* Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, kills nearly 7,500 Americans per year.

Causes and Risk:

* Ultraviolet, or UV, radiation from exposure to the sun, is a major cause of skin cancer.

* Sun exposure during childhood accounts for about 80 percent of lifetime exposure.

* Children receive three times more ultraviolet (UV) radiation than adults each year and can benefit most from sun protection.

* Lifeguards and aquatics instructors are especially at risk for skin cancer because of their long hours of sun exposure.

* The harmful effects of UV radiation accumulate. So, sun protection should be a lifelong habit.

Most skin cancer is preventable! (POOL COOL Leaders Guide)

For more information about the POOL COOL program and for a full list of participants, please visit www.nrpa.org and go to National Programs.

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