Bermuda Cancer & Health, BWS To Launch UVI
May is Melanoma Month and one of the major public health concerns, especially in sub-tropical regions such as Bermuda, is the amount of harmful ultraviolet [UV] radiation reaching the ground; UV radiation is the leading cause of skin cancer diagnoses and Bermuda has a 12 percent higher incidence rate than the United States.
Now, a partnership between the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre and the Bermuda Weather Service will see the implementing of the UV Index [UVI], a tool intended to help people prevent the skin damage that can lead to skin cancer.
A spokesperson said, “The UVI is a major tool in assisting people to protect themselves to prevent skin cancer. This initiative has come to fruition by the tireless efforts and generosity of Mrs. Lynanne Bolton, who has been personally affected by skin cancer.
“Her passion and drive to help save lives and bring accurate data to the community has been a driving force behind this project. We are thankful to Mrs. Bolton, and the Bolton family, for their efforts in assisting to bring such an invaluable resource to the community, to enhance the public’s knowledge on how to protect themselves, against over exposure from the sun.
“A UVI reading provides us with a scale that measures UV Radiation from the sun, the major source of radiation that causes skin cancer, cataracts, and other illnesses. The values of the index range from zero to 11+. The higher the UVI number, the greater the potential for damage to the skin and eyes, and the less time it takes for damage to occur.
“The UVI readings inform the public of the UV radiation on a given day and are reported from a prediction at the solar noon hour [when sun is at its highest point in the sky], just after 1pm during ADT and 12 noon during AST. The UV levels will rise and fall as the day progresses.
“The UVI scale is a helpful warning for people to assist them with how much sun protection to use while outdoors for extended periods of time.
“To report UVI data accurately requires sophisticated instrumentation. Currently, Kipp & Zonen are the only company to produce both the instrumentation [UV radiometer] and software necessary to correct the data for atmospheric effects, in order to produce an accurate UVI reading for use by the public.
“Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre is pleased to announce that it has collaborated with the Bermuda Weather Service in order to purchase and operate Kipp & Zonen’s UV radiometer equipment, which is a highly valued asset for the Island of Bermuda. Never before have real-time UVI readings of this accuracy been available in Bermuda, and this data will help to highlight the health hazards of excessive sun exposure.
“Bermuda Weather Service is operated by BAS-Serco on behalf of the Department of Airport Operations [DAO]. Both BAS-Serco and the DAO are in full support of this very valuable community initiative. This project began last summer with the implementation of a 2 day UV-Index forecast on the Bermuda Weather Service [BWS] website.
“This latest development is the second tier of the project, which will see real-time data being disseminated to the public via the BWS’s website and also the cable television channels, CV channel 4 and WOW channel 100.
“The equipment is currently being installed and tested at the BWS in St. David’s. By the start of the summer full operation of the instrumentation is expected, and BWS provisionally plan to roll out the real-time UVI data in a number of innovative ways.
“The Latest UVI figure [real-time data ‘observed’ by the UV radiometer] will be posted on the BWS homepage in the ‘Latest Conditions at LF Wade International Airport’ section. A new UVI link which will not only contain useful information and links on UV, but also a graphical representation of how the UV-Index changes throughout the day.
“The standard graph for a day of full sunshine with no cloud [which absorbs the incoming UV] will look very much like a bell curve, starting at a value of zero at dawn, rising to a maximum figure at the solar noon hour, and then falling away back to zero by dusk. A historical/climatological reference to the previous day’s maximum UV-Index will be available via the ‘Climate’ tab.
“Once the UV-radiometer, data output and associated products are running smoothly, it is hoped that there may be scope for BWS to carry out some research into how cloud cover affects the incoming UV [e.g. the more cloud cover, the greater the absorption of UV by the clouds].
“At Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, our SunSmart programme brings public awareness through presentations in our schools, private and public sector, from the preschool level up to the senior school level. Corporate presentations are offered as well.
“Our main objective is to target the young, by promoting good SunSmart behaviours using five steps, including slip on sun protective clothing, long sleeved shirts with collar, long pants; slop on sunscreen, 20 to 30 minutes before going outside, using broad spectrum with SPF 30+; and reapply every two hours; slap on a broad brimmed hat that will protect your face, ears and neck; seek shade between the hours of 10.00am and 4.00pm; and slide on close fitted, wrap around sunglasses with UV protection.
“Now, more importantly, we have the UVI data being recorded here on island by BWS. This seals the deal in all the required steps to protecting yourself while outdoors. Depending on the UVI value, everyone will be able to plan their outdoor activities, accordingly.”
For more information on the UVI, visit the BWS website. For more information on the SunSmart Programme, visit the Bermuda Cancer & Health website.
Be sure to check out www.weather.bm for more information on the UVI and www.chc.bm for more information on the SunSmart programme.
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Category: All, Environment
