Sunburn Frequency and Sun Protection Attitudes among Ocean Lifeguards at Florida Beaches

Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0002-6962-989X

Department

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-16-2023

Abstract

Relationships between sunburn and melanoma occurrence among outdoor workers are well-established.1 While US mortality rates from melanoma have dropped substantially through improved therapies,2 180 deaths in the US from melanoma were estimated in 2021 with 106,110 incident cases.3 Additionally, interventions for non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are warranted as a “NMSC epidemic”4 afflicts over five million US persons annually.5 Furthermore, US sunburn-related medical treatment costs exceed $11 million annually.6 Accordingly, outdoor occupations have been identified as needing interventions to minimize ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure.7

Among populations warranting investigation, beach lifeguards have elevated skin cancer risks from high UVR doses8 and inadequate utilization of sun protection strategies.8,9 Relative to pool lifeguards, beach lifeguards are understudied. Beach lifeguards are often assigned to locations with less sun protection than pool lifeguards.10 US ocean lifeguard studies are limited to a study from the 2018 Annual National Lifeguard Championships (n=215) and a 2013 Hawaii study (n=52).9,11 Due to limited research on Atlantic Ocean lifeguards, we assessed sunburn frequency, attitudes, and practices related to sun protection among Florida ocean lifeguards during the 2020 season, which occurred early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Journal Title

Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology

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