HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	161
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

Encouraging the department of health to develop a skin cancer education and prevention program and collect data on the incidence of all forms of skin cancer among residents AND TO WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT A CANCER AWARENESS PROGRAM IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

     WHEREAS, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than one million new cases diagnosed annually; and

     WHEREAS, one in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during the course of their lifetime; and

     WHEREAS, more than ninety per cent of all cases of skin cancer develop from exposure to the sunlight; and

     WHEREAS, a person's risk for developing skin cancer doubles if the person has had five or more sunburns; therefore, sunbathers and people that spend a great deal of time outdoors are at particular risk of skin cancer; and

     WHEREAS, skin cancer from sun exposure is largely preventable through the use of barriers that protect the user from the sun's harmful rays, such as sunscreen, hats, and clothing; and

     WHEREAS, residents and visitors to Hawaii are exposed to high doses of ultraviolet radiation from the sun daily; and

     WHEREAS, people with special skin conditions may be even more susceptible to the skin damage from ultraviolet radiation from sunlight; and

     WHEREAS, residents and visitors to the State need to be made aware of the risk of sun cancer due to prolonged repeated exposure to high doses of ultraviolet radiation from the sun; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii's young people need to be educated on the dangers of sun exposure and the ways that they may protect themselves against skin cancer; and

WHEREAS, under Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, the Department of Education is required to assume responsibility for school health services; now therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the Department of Health is encouraged to develop a program, that includes public service announcements, to educate all residents and visitors on the dangers of skin cancer and the importance of sun protection; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is strongly urged to work with the Department of Education to develop and implement a program in all public schools to educate Hawaii's students on the dangers of sun exposure and the ways that they may protect themselves against skin cancer; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is urged to begin data collection on the incidence of all forms of skin cancer among residents of Hawaii, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is encouraged to develop a program to encourage residents to receive regular skin cancer screenings from their health care provider; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is encouraged to examine the benefits of dark automobile window tinting for persons with skin conditions that make them more sensitive to sunlight; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Chairperson of the Board of Education, and the Superintendent of Education.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Encouraging the department of health to develop a skin cancer education and prevention program and collect data on the incidence of all forms of skin cancer among residents