Want to continue boating, hiking, fishing? Protect your skin
While there is ongoing debate concerning global warming versus global cooling, increasing bad weather versus longer periods of relatively calm weather patterns, and increasingly frequent periods of influence by El Nino's adverse global effects, there is one fact about our changing environment that is accepted as fact by virtually everyone.
The ozone layer high above the surface of the earth that filters out many of the sun's most harmful ultra-violet rays is definitely thinner in places.
A thinning ozone layer portends many adverse things for virtually every living creature on earth. The recent decline in the numbers of certain amphibians has already been attributed to increased ultra-violet radiation that directly resulted in decreasing or destroying the viability of their egg masses. And more evidence is being obtained each year that points to increased UV radiation causing severe decreases in some insect populations.
Its effects on higher forms of life have not yet been fully determined.
Humans would be wise to start taking precautions now if they hope to avoid at least some of the problems associated with too much UV exposure in general, and skin cancer in particular, in the future. It is a fact that, just 30 years ago, skin cancer was diagnosed in one human per every 400,000.
Today that figure is one in every 80. And that rate is increasing almost annually. It is entirely likely that, within the next two decades, skin cancer will be diagnosed in one out of every 20 humans if this current trend continues.
Anyone who spends any time outdoors is in danger of running afoul of too much sun. Golfers, fishermen, hikers, swimmers, and anyone else who is exposed to direct sunlight must take precautions if they hope to avoid this potentially deadly situation.
And children and persons with light skin are particularly susceptible to the dangers of sun burn and skin cancer.
There are several effective ways to lessen the adverse effects of the sun's rays. The most effective is to cover all exposed skin with clothing of some type. Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a wide brim hat are good sun blockers.
Unfortunately, their use is not practical with some people once the really hot days of summer finally arrive. Long sleeves are just too hot to tolerate for some of us folks.
Using a sun-tan lotion with adequate amounts of effective UV blockers is the only safe and practical way to go when protection from those harmful rays is the goal. A liberal application on all exposed skin is all that is needed. Reapplication may be necessary after several hours of exposure or if lots of sweating has taken place, even if the brand being used claims not to wash off while swimming.
The Sun Protection Factor, or SPF, is extremely important. Most experts on this subject suggest that an SPF of 15 is the minimum needed by most individuals. Individuals with extremely sensitive skin or young children may need a higher SPF of around 30. It is doubtful anyone would need protection beyond the SPF 30 level.
Many modern "Sun Tanning Oils" currently being offered either offer no SPF value or have a value of 2. The SPF 2 formulas manage to block 50 percent of the sun's UVA and UVB radiation.
An SPF of 4 blocks 75 percent, while an SPF of 8 blocks around 88 percent. Most skin experts agree that, in order to be fully protected from the harmful effects of UV radiation, a minimum of 90 percent must be blocked.
A lotion with an SPF 15 value blocks 93 percent of all UV radiation. A SPF 30 rating blocks around 95 percent of the UV radiation.
Some forms of skin cancer can be difficult to recognize. Most often they begin as red splotches that usually become tender or painful to the touch. Malignant melanoma, on the other hand, is relatively easy to recognize since it almost always involves changes in pre-existing moles.
Any changes in any mole such as irregular growth, changes in coloration, or uneven edges should shout out a warning. Get to a doctor fast.
Actually that is what anyone should do if they have any suspect areas on their skin. When this disease is the topic, a person cannot be too careful. Melanoma-type cancers kill one person per hour. The overwhelming majority of those fatalities could have been prevented with early detection.
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Summertime is upon us, and with the warm weather comes another of summer's expected pests - the obnoxious boater.
You know, the guy who speeds by too close while you are trying to entice the big one to bite your bait offering. Or, maybe it's the personal watercraft operator who just wants to show how good he and his machine are.
Or it may be the water skiers who don't care if their screaming disturbs others as long as they get their thrills. Regardless, these guys end up spoiling the day for everyone but themselves, and that is all they really wanted to do to begin with.
It's a shame we don't have more lakes, or fewer users, but we don't. Therefore we have to try to get along with each other, and that means common courtesy.
Courtesy on everybody's part is about the only way for all of us to enjoy the full bounty of this area we call the Finger Lakes. Too bad a few obnoxious individuals don't give a hoot about courtesy or anything else except their own selfish, self-centered desires.
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The No. 1 reason anglers lose a fish once they have hooked it is because of dull hooks.
A dull hook either does not sink in when it is set, which means there is very little or nothing actually holding the fish. Either that, or it tears a hole as it penetrates.
It is that loose hole, which usually grows larger as the fish fights, that allows the hook to fall free once slack gets in the line.
In either case, dull hooks equals more lost fish. But more on that in a future column.
Len Lisenbee is the Daily Messenger's Outdoor Columnist. Contact him at lisenbee@frontiernet.net