Agencies launch sunscreen initiative

The Flathead City-County Health Department and Kalispell Parks and Recreation have begun to work together to help combat skin cancer in the Flathead Valley with a simple solution: sunscreen.

To help slow the rate of skin cancer, the Health Department and Kalispell Parks and Recreation have purchased public sunscreen dispensers for use by the community during outdoor events.

According to the department, between 65 percent to 90 percent of melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet light. The new sunscreen stations provide SPF 30 sunscreen in automatic dispensers mounted on free-standing metal poles.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control. And it’s on the rise.

Montana falls in line with states that have the most cases of skin cancer in the nation with an incident rate of nearly 26 per 100,000 people.

From 2004 to 2013, an average of 240 people in Montana were diagnosed each year with skin cancer, according to a 2015 report by the state department of health. Of those, an average of 32 people died from the disease each year.

In the last decade, melanoma was the second-most-common form of cancer among adolescents and young adults in Montana. From 2009 through 2013, approximately 29 adolescents and young adults between the ages of 15 and 39 years were diagnosed with melanoma each year in Montana.

Mark Freidline, the recreation superintendent for Kalispell Parks and Recreation, said the two organizations met in June to talk about partnerships.

He said what both groups quickly discovered was a common concern that people weren’t prepared for Montana summer days.

Freidline said while Kalispell Parks and Recreation requires youths in its summer camps to bring sunscreen, many show up without it.

“Simply, parents forget or kids forget to put the sunscreen in their bag,” Freidline said. “Having the dispensers is a simple step we can take to help ensure our kids and community are safe.”

Throughout August, sunscreen stations will be available at Depot Park during the Wednesday Picnic in the Park concerts from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Kalispell Parks and Recreation has set up a sunscreen station at the Woodland Camp Center for day-camp participants and is exploring adding a sunscreen station to other community events.

The Health Department’s first event with a sunscreen station was the “It’s All About Our Kids” family fun celebration on Thursday at Depot Park in Kalispell.

The Health Department also will loan out sunscreen stations to community organizations and groups holding outdoor events.

Organizations and groups interested in borrowing a sunscreen station or purchasing their own may contact the Health Department at 751-8106.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.