Trends are a huge part at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School (OHCHS) just like every other high school. At OHCHS, tanning has become one of these trends. Many girls and guys who do go tanning, go right into town at either Ocean Breeze Tanning Salon, Coconut Beach Tanning Salon, Hair Plus or in other salons close in distance. Chuck Martin, a science teacher at OHCHS, got a grant to sponsor a Tan Free Prom and many different events to spread the awareness about skin cancer.
“Six years ago I was diagnosed with melanoma. My wife had found a spot on my stomach and encouraged me to get it checked out,” said Martin. “I had the spot removed and haven’t had a problem since, but it definitely was an eye opener.”
The grant that Martin received was called “Skin Cancer Prevention and Awareness in Oxford Hills”. He plans to use this grant to provide ten sun canopies for athletic games and practices. For sports, he also plans on updating the district coaches handbook to include a section on skin cancer awareness and sunscreen use for coaches and athletes.
Martin plans on buying two informational bulletin boards that will show the heat index for outside. They will be placed at the Oxford Hills Middle School and OHCHS, continually being updated to let the students know about the high temperatures.
“Also, in April during Common Block, I’m inviting a guest speaker, who had melanoma, to talk about the importance of not tanning,” explained Martin. “There will also be a screening day for the OHCHS faculty to be checked by dermatologists. As for the students, there will be a UV light which will show the skin damage. It will hopefully help them understand that the damage is happening, they just are unable to see it.”
The Tan Free Prom will consist of a pledge that boys and girls at OHCHS can take before Prom. The students who do pledge will get a bracelet that says, “I pledged to go Tan Free-Prom 2014” and their name will be posted in the Cafeteria. They will also be entered into a drawing for a laptop, $30.00 Applebee’s gift card, and a free spray tan.
“Although no tan is a safe tan, spray tans aren’t as concerning as tanning booths. Booths tend to exceed UV limits and people often stay in the booths longer than the recommended time,” said Martin. “A recent study shows that more young girls getting skin cancer due to tanning between the ages of fifteen to twenty-four.”
A few other ways that Martin is getting the word out about Melanoma is the Skinny on Skin Program which educates hair stylists and massage therapists in the Oxford Hills area on detection of suspicious moles and spots on the body.
There will also be Public Service Announcements regarding protecting skin and getting screened annually. This will air over the local radio WOXO during May, which is also National Melanoma Awareness month.
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