VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2007 SHOELACES Tying Health and Physical Education to Life A PUBLICATION OF THE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF THE CONNECTICUT TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM Safe in the sun… the burning facts! According to the EPA: The lazy days of summer are upon us which means more time spent outdoors… and in the sun. Whether your skins burns or not, exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays from the sun causes skin damage and cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime. The Skin Cancer Foundation states, “more than 90 percent of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure.” These startling statistics serve as a reminder that skin health and maintenance is a top priority. So what is one to do to prevent skin cancer? Follow this link and take the sun safety quiz, http://www.cancer.org/ docroot/PED/content/ PED_7_1x_Take_the_Sun _Safety_Quiz.asp? sitearea=PED Some basic tips to reduce your risk for skin cancer include: 1. Limit direct sun exposure during midday. Seek shade especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 2. Cover up. Wear clothing to protect as much skin as possible. Dark colors provide more protection than light colors. 3. Wear a hat. A hat with at least a 2-3 inch brim around is ideal because it protects the eyes, ears, neck, nose, forehead and scalp. 4. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Make sure the brand you use protects both UVA and UVB rays. Be sure to purchase a sunscreen with both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide— these physical compounds reflect, scatter and absorb both UVA and UVB rays and do not typically cause allergic reactions. 5. Wear sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays. Long hours in the sun without eye protection has been shown to increase the chances of developing eye disease. 6. Check your skin regularly. It will improve your chances of finding precancerous skin conditions. The earlier you identify signs, the greater the chances for successful treatment. “More than 1 million people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer each year.” Source: EPA 430-F-06-016 September 2006 Re- Inside this issue: Nutrition Nuggets 2 An Exercise State of Mind 2 Health Observances 2 In the Spotlight 3 Health & PE Goals 3 References 3 member: A few moments of prevention can save a life! SHOELACES Page 2 The Foods of Summer Summer brings an array of foods to enjoy. A stroll through the farmer’s market or a local stand will yield a bounty of the season’s best offerings. The availability of produce in the summer not only boosts your eating habits but adds to local economy. Berries, tomatoes, sweet corn , melons and summer squash are just few favorites that taste wonderful raw, grilled, or steamed. Portable fruits and vegetables travel well and offer fiber, vitamins, and miner- als as well as carbohydrates. Summer is the perfect time to get your 5 a day servings of fruits and vegetables...but don’t forget to properly wash! It may be too hot to cook in the kitchen so bring out the slow cooker, fondue pot, or fire up the grill. Experiment with marinades to add a punch of flavor to steaks, chicken or seafood. Premarinating the night before saves times and energy! Taking your food on the road? Invest in a good quality cooler for those perishable items. Be sure the cooler has air-tight gasket seals around the lid and a leak-proof spigot for draining melted water. Also consider the size: coolers filled with food and ice can be heavy so you may want to purchase two coolers of a manageable size and weight, so you can lift easily. Enjoy the best of summer foods to keep you eating healthfully! An Exercise State of Mind Summer is a wonderful time to get out of doors and enjoy the warm weather. Whether you are continuing a fitness program or beginning a new one Always check with your physician before starting a new fitness routine), here are some basic tips to remember : 1. Hydrate. Carry cold water with you; drink often. 2. 3. Monitor your heart rate. If your heart rate goes above your target, slow down or stop to avoid distress. Visit http:// www.mayoclinic.com/ health/target-heartrate/SM00083 to determine what your rate is. Exercise before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. to avoid high heat and pollution. 4. Dress in light colored, ply-cotton fiber blends which reflect the heat and wick perspiration away from the body 5. Use sunscreen and wear a hat to protect from sun exposure. 6. Shower and change clothes soon after exercising to avoid skin irritation. Enjoy the sunshine! Summer Observances June July August Home Safety Month UV Safety Month www.homesafetycouncil.org www.aao.org National Immunization Awareness Month Vision Research Month National Youth Sports Week www.preventblindness.org July 10-14 National Scleroderma Awareness Month www.nrpa.org www.scleroderma.org www.cdc.gov/nip Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month www.preventblindness.org Psoriasis Awareness Month www.psoriasis.org SHOELACES Tying Health and Physical Education to Life CTHSS 25 Industrial Park Road Middletown, Connecticut 06457 Health & Physical Education Goals Phone: 860-807-2174 Editor: Donna Lynn Wallace E-mail: Donna.Wallace@ct.gov 1. Utilize a whole person approach to curriculum and instructional strategies. 2. Equip students with the skills necessary to make conscious decisions about how to create and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle. CT Technical High School System 3. Foster an environment which nurtures the diversity of students to apply key concepts and strategies of Health and Physical Education to their own lives. In the spotlight…. Kudos to…. Chris Wethered, Lesli Stevens, Ivy Greenhalgh, Sue Schryver, and Jeremy Beebe - for all of their hard work writing curriculum this year. It was a labor intensive process that I know you will agree will help students achieve at high levels in physical education and health! Jeremy Beebe, Jeff Belanger, Jayne Boulay, Dave Curtis, Bruce Haney, Jason Henry, Tim Krodel, Jeanne Lester, Chrystyna Messina, Norm Michaud, Michelle Murray, Liz Neubelt, Matt Noonan, Kathy Patrick, Francine Ramos, Sue Schryver, and Danielle Stebbins for their contributions to the 2006-2007 Physical Education/Health Steering Committee. Their willingness to jump in head first helped to make the committee a success! Bill Barbarito, Jeff Belanger, Jeff Bemis, Eva Esposito, Jason Henry, Francine Ramos and Brad Steurer for attending the Project Adventure workshop at Brookfield High School, June 14, 2007. A warm CTHSS welcome to Steve Pepe (Abbott) and Paul Vallone (Windham) - both of whom joined us as teachers mid-year. Please join me in wishing them success. The CTHSS family is growing! Congratulations to Michelle Murray and her husband on the birth of their twin girls, Jordyn and Sadie (May 2007). Congratulations to Jeff Bemis and his wife on the birth of their son, Michael (May 2007). If you have something you want to highlight, please forward to me, so we can share our successes and creative use of space and time. References P. 1—EPA 430-F-06-016 September 2006 P.1—http://www.skincancer.org P. 1—http://www.cancer.org P.2—http://www.onhealth.com/script/main/ art.asp?articlekey=56395 P.2—http://www.wholefoodsmartket.com/cgibin/print10pt.cgi?url=/recipes/ list_picnic.html P. 2—http://diet.ivillage.com/issues/ ichoices/0,,81xhdtx3-p,00.html P. 2—http:// www.emaxhealth.com/2/2533.html