Coalition for Skin Cancer Prevention in Maryland 
SunGuard Your Skin


Visit us at www.sunguardman.org

 What is the Skin Cancer Problem? 

Skin cancer is the most common and most rapidly increasing form of cancer in the United States. One in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer. More than one million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed this year in the United States. More than one thousand cases of the deadly skin cancer, malignant melanoma, are expected in Maryland this year.

While skin cancer is the most common cancer it is also the most preventable. Exposure to UV radiation during childhood and adolescence plays a major role in the development of melanoma and basal cell carcinoma. Just one or two severe sunburns during this time period doubles the risk of developing melanoma later in life. Therefore, interventions targeted at youth and parents hold the greatest promise for achieving long term reductions in skin cancer rates.

SunGuard Man at The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Malignant Melanoma and other skin cancers can be prevented by following these precautions:

  1. Limit sun exposure from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
  2. Cover up with long sleeves, a wide-brimmed hat and UV protective sunglasses.
  3. Seek the shade of trees, umbrellas, buildings or awnings on sunny days.
  4. Use sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher, liberally and often.
  5. Avoid tanning salons and other sources of artificial UV radiation.

 

What is the Coalition?

The Coalition for Skin Cancer Prevention in Maryland, led by MedChi, is the only central resource for skin cancer education in the state. Funded by a grant from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Coalition works to raise awareness about the harmful effects of the sun and encourage sun safe behaviors among Marylanders by coordinating and augmenting the efforts of the local health departments and the Statewide Health Network, along with numerous other public, private, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. For more information about the Coalition and its members, click here.

How is the Coalition Helping?

Established in 1997 with a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Coalition has made positive strides toward raising Marylanders' awareness about skin cancer. The Coalition’s SunGuard Your Skin elementary/middle school curriculum has been taught to thousands of children in Maryland and around the world, as it is offered, free of charge, online at www.sunguardman.org. The curriculum has been proven to produce statistically significant improvements in students’ knowledge, attitudes towards tanning, and sun safe behaviors with correlated t tests of pre and post test scores.

Some Coalition Accomplishments

The Coalition’s innovative web site at www.sunguardman.org featuring interactive games, cartoon adventures, and a Teacher’s site, has been viewed by more than a million visitors

Thousands of Maryland students in grades K through 8 have entered the Coalition’s yearly SunGuard Your Skin poster contest

More than 500 child care providers have been trained to provide sun safe environments at their centers and to teach a sun safety curriculum to the children; the Alliance to MedChi will be assisting in this endeavor

Millions of Marylanders view public service announcements aired by Coalition partner WBFF-Fox 45/WNUV 54 featuring mascot SunGuard Man, local sports heroes, and poster contest winners

Eight SunGuard Man mascot costumes across the state are used in venues such as schools, health fairs, major statewide conventions, and athletic arenas to disseminate the Coalition’s skin cancer prevention messages

Patient information on skin cancer prevention in an attractive lucite holder, is distributed to primary care physicians across Maryland

Coalition members authored the Ultraviolet Radiation and Skin Cancer Chapter of the 2004-2008 Maryland Cancer Plan

The Coalition was instrumental in the publication of the Maryland State School Health Services Guidelines for Protecting Students and Staff From Overexposure to the Sun

The Coalition is a member of the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention

If you would like more information about the Coalition and its activities, contact

Roberta Herbst 
Project Coordinator
Ph.410-539-0872, ext. 340
Email rherbst@medchi.org

Sharon Kairis
Project Assistant
Ph. 410-539-0872, ext. 314
Email skairis@medchi.org

Center for a Healthy Maryland, Inc.
MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society
1211 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-5516
Tel: 800-492-1056/410-539-0872
Fax: 410-649-4131
www.healthymaryland.org
www.medchi.org

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