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Majority of Americans don't use sunscreen, study reveals
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Just under 10,000 Americans will die of melanoma the deadliest form of skin cancer this year alone. But the majority of people in the U.S. still dont use sunscreen, according to a new study. - photo by Jessica Ivins
Just under 10,000 Americans will die of melanoma the deadliest form of skin cancer this year alone. But the majority of people in the U.S. still dont use sunscreen, according to a new study.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, used data from a 2013 survey about daily sunscreen use, according to Science Daily.

The results: Only 14 percent of men surveyed reported using sunscreen when theyve been in the sun for more than an hour. Women were a bit more judicious about 30 percent reported regular application.

When it comes to the face, however, women appear to care a bit more. About 43 percent reported regular sunscreen use there.

Women may be more likely to use sunscreen on the face because of the anti-aging benefits, or because of the many cosmetic products on the market that contain sunscreen, study lead Dawn Holman told Science Daily. However, its important to protect your whole body from the sun, not just your face.

Only 18 percent reported sunscreen use on their faces. Men were also far less likely to use sunscreen, in general, with nearly 44 percent reporting they never used it. Thats compared to 27 percent of women who skipped the Coppertone.

Meanwhile, despite the fact that Congress passed the Sunscreen Innovation Act which requires the FDA to speed up its review of more effective sunscreen ingredients last fall, no new-and-improved sunscreens have hit the U.S. market, according to The Washington Post.

The hope is to get those sunscreens on the market by this summer, but the FDA rejected eight pending applications, claiming the companies proposing the ingredients didnt provide enough data to prove the materials were safe, The Post reported.

The lack of action has frustrated lawmakers, skin cancer advocates and consumers alike.

Why do you do continue to delay in taking action? Some of those applications have been pending for 12 years, Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), the main backer of the Sunscreen Innovation Act, asked FDA officials at a hearing last month, The Post reported.

FDA officials maintain theyre frustrated too, but they cant risk putting a potentially unsafe ingredient on the market without enough information.

Were very committed to doing our part to provide consumers with additional options, but the sponsors also have to do their part to provide safety and efficacy data, FDA rep Theresa Michele told The Post.

According to the study, 80 percent of sunscreen users said they used products with an SPF of 15 or higher. Sixty percent used a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

Anyone can get skin cancer, so everyone should take steps to protect themselves from the sun, dermatologist Mark Lebwohl told Science Daily. Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays, both of which can cause cancer.

On its website, the American Academy of Dermatology offers a full list of tips on how to stay safe in the sun. Among those tips, apply sunscreen 15 minutes before you head outside, make sure you apply to all exposed areas of your body and reapply at least every two hours.
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Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program announces grant
Funds earmarked for Share the Road initiatives
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Grant funding totaling $93,458 has been awarded to the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP) by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The approved funding will be used to increase motorcycle safety awareness and outreach by encouraging all motorists and motorcyclists to Share the Road.

“The need for motorcycle safety programs is greater than ever, and this support from GOHS enables motorcycle safety programs and impaired riding initiatives to reach riders and non-riders alike” said Commissioner Spencer R. Moore. “Thank you GOHS for helping (the Department of Driver Services) and GMSP educate and encourage all Georgia drivers to ‘Share the Road.’”

The grant allows DDS to further develop the Motorcycle Safety Outreach Program by continuing to fund a position to promote state and national safety initiatives. The GMSP outreach coordinator researches, coordinates and helps maintain an adequate presence at industry events, local schools and colleges, regional meetings and festivals to increase awareness of motorcycles on the roadways and provide the most current information on motorcycle safety initiatives.

Visitors to a GMSP event display are also encouraged to sign up for regular newsletters which provide additional safety information, as well as review the motorcycle safety message on other social media platforms.

GMSP regulates motorcycle training for new riders, as well as seasoned riders, who want to learn how to ride a motorcycle legally and safely. The program is based on a continuum of learning and therefore offers three entry points to rider education.

Students participating in the Basic Riders Course do not need specialized motorcycle equipment, as the GMSP provides both a motorcycle and a helmet to class participants. Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive a 90-day license waiver card that exempts them from both the written and on-cycle skills tests needed to obtain a Class M license in the state of Georgia.

Please visit the DDS website at www.dds.georgia.gov for many online services including the convenience of enrolling in a GMSP training class and accessing many licensing services.

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