A Word from Our CEO

Krystin Albert, BSN RN

Summer is here, that means more time spent outside. Whether you’re enjoying the day, exercising or working let’s take a moment and talk about what you can do to protect yourself from harmful UV rays from the sun.

 Protection is simple…. As you prepare to head out make sure you have a hat, not just a baseball cap or a visor but a large brim hat. This will help cover and protect not only your face and ears but also your neck. The sun is the hottest between 10 am -4pm so plan activities accordingly and choose an area that is shady or provides protection from the direct sunlight. Long sleeve shirts and pants made of tightly woven fabric offer the best protection, along with darker colors. Don’t forget your sunglasses! These provide protection not only to the skin around your eyes but protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays. Lastly, sunscreen applied to all exposed areas of skin is applied 30 minutes prior to going out in the sun and reapply every 2 hours especially if you’re swimming or exercising. Choose a broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher, I recommend SPF 50 if you are at risk or have had any skin cancer. Make sure your Sunscreen hasn’t expired rule of thumb good for 3 years.

Know the facts!

Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinoma are common and affect the top layer of your skin, this makes them curable after treatment or removal. Melanoma begins deeper in the skin making it more likely to cause death due to its ability to spread faster to other organs. Certain medications, medical conditions, scars and high exposure to pesticides can increase your risk of developing skin cancer.

Be vigilant, examine your skin, assess for any new lesions, changes in any freckles or moles. Report any changes in appearance to your doctor. Melanoma has very distinct characteristics. 

The A-B-C-D-Es of Melanoma per the CDC states

·     Asymmetrical: Is it irregular shaped with two parts that look very different?

·      Border: is the border irregular or jagged?

·      Color: is it two toned or irregular?

·      Diameter: how big is it? Is it larger than the size of a pea?

·      Evolving: Has this mole changed in the last month or few weeks?

If you answer “yes” to any of those questions you should make an appointment to see your doctor. In the course of a lifetime 2.1 percent of the population will be diagnosed with Melanoma at some point. Be proactive and be safe and enjoy the summer months

Franklin VNA and Hospice is always here to help you or your loved one with any of your healthcare needs. Franklin VNA and Hospice: You do have a choice. Choose Franklin VNA and Hospice.

Even in the fickle-weathered granite state, July is a reliably hot and sunny month where we can barbecue, swim and play outside through the long days. With that welcome warmth also comes UV exposure from the sun, and the familiar reminders to wear sunscreen. We thought that in honor of July being National UV Safety Month, a review of this often forgotten, but important protection, was in order.

Sunscreen, when used correctly, blocks most UVA and UVB radiation from reaching our skin, which then protects us from the harmful carcinogenic effects. These can include, wrinkling, sagging, age spots, eye damage and, most deadly, skin cancer. Melanoma, the deadliest of the bunch kills more than 8,000 Americans each year. Make sure the one you buy says it offers “broad-spectrum” protection since that’s the kind which offers us the most protection.

The SPF number on the label helps you know how much UVB is blocked. SPF 15, the lowest number you should use, blocks about 93% of the rays, while SPF 30 and SPF 50 block 97% and 98% respectively per skincancer.org. No sunscreen can block 100% of the damaging rays, and all need to be reapplied every two hours to keep working, or after swimming, toweling dry or even a heavy sweat. Anyone over 6-months old should wear sunscreen, those 6-months and under should be kept out of the sun.

Did you know....you should apply your first coat of sunscreen 30 minutes prior to going outside to give it time to do its job, and that thing about the shot glass full? It’s true. You need to apply the full 1oz amount to really get full coverage and full UV protection. This holds true even for those overcast days. Just because the sun is behind those clouds, doesn’t mean the UV rays stay there. Up to 40% of UV radiation still reaches us!

To give your sunscreen, and yourself, some extra help, stay out of the sun and in the shade from 10am to 4pm, wear a hat with a nice wide brim, and sunglasses that block UV rays. You’ll look like a movie star, keep your skin young looking longer, and most important, block those cancer-causing UVA and UVB rays!

Germ of the Month

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

You may have heard the abbreviation MRSA before in your doctor’s office, hospital, or even in the community. MRSA stands for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This is actually a very common germ; about 1 of every 3 people have this germ on their skin or in their nose. However, this germ does not cause issues for most people and is dormant. Anyone can get a MRSA infection or carry MRSA.

Issues arise with MRSA in that can be resistant to many types of antibiotics. Symptoms of infection are dependent on which part of the body has become infected. For example, if broken skin such as a scrape becomes infected the skin may become red, swollen, pain, and full of pus or drainage, often accompanied by a fever.

The risk increases for people with hospitalizations or nursing home stays, skin-to-skin contact with others (such as in contact sports), and exposure to crowded and unhygienic places. Groups at higher risk include athlete’s, those in daycares, inpatient medical care facilities, or surgical patients. An active MRSA infection can lead to more serious complications such as pneumonia, bloodstream infections, surgical site infections, sepsis, or even death.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) basics. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mrsa/about/index.html

What's Happening in July?

Summer is in full swing which means farmers markets are up and running! So if you're looking for fresh vegetables, meats, eggs, breads and so much more, check out these local farmers markets.

Tilton's Farmers Market every Tuesday held at 45 Sanborn Rd next to the Tilton Police Station from 3:30pm-6:30pm all summer long until October 8th. They often have a food truck there every week.

Franklin's Farmers Market every Thursday in Marceau Park on Central Street in downtown Franklin from 3pm-6pm all summer long until September 12th.

Gilmanton's Farmers Market every Sunday on the lawn of the Gilmanton Year-Round Library on Rt 140 across from Gilmanton Elementary School from 11am-2pm until October. They often have live music and a food truck every week.

Concord Farmers Market every Saturday on Capitol Street adjacent to the State House Lawn in Concord from 8:30am-12pm until October 26th.

CURRENT & UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS

Memorial Brick and Founding Donor Patio

With a donation of $50 you receive a custom brick in the memory of a lost loved one. The brick will be honored in the Teuscher-Wilson Hospice Garden, which is pictured at the top left. Other opportunities are open for larger donations as Diamond, Opal, and Amethyst sponsors. Please click on the link below for more information.

BP Clinics and Calendar of Events

Our Spring Drop-In Grief Support Group

no registration needed