Executive Director's July 2024 Message

The weather is heating up, and I am ready for the upcoming Independence Day holiday. Thanks to my husband, my garden is in full bloom and the grill is ready to go. We even put up a new shade sail this year, so I can sit in my garden and read for hours in the shade.

July is both UV Safety and Healthy Vision Month. I’ve spent enough of my youth sun-worshipping to now know that it was a terrible idea. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70, and having five or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma. These days, I’m all about sunscreen, UV clothes, sun hats, and enjoying summer in the shade. If you have a Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) account with the Health Service System (HSS), you can use it to pay for sunscreen and your co-pay to see your dermatologist at the end of summer for a mole check.

I’ve also been taking advantage of our VSP vision benefits to get some fun prescription sunglasses. They have been quite the conversation piece when I see my friends. If you haven’t had your annual eye exam yet, I encourage you to do so. Annual eye exams are the best way to maintain eye health, and everyone should have a pair of sunglasses for UV protection.

I’ll be sporting my new sunglasses this year at baby showers for two of my nieces. I can’t wait to celebrate their new additions with them.

I hope you are also planning some well-deserved time off to make meaningful memories with those you love. We all need to take some time off to recharge occasionally.

Be well,

Abbie Yant, RN, MA