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Water and Sun Safety Day July 2 in Barnstable Village

BARNSTABLE (MA) June 30, 2015 –With the arrival of the summer boating season, the Barnstable Fire Department, Barnstable Harbormaster, Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment, and Cape Cod Sea Sports have joined forces to present a Water and Sun Safety Day.

This event will be held at the Barnstable Fire Department in Barnstable Village on Thursday, July 2, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will feature kayak, stand-up-paddle-board (SUP) and sun safety information. This includes resources, safety equipment displays, Q&A sessions and raffle prizes, all free to the public. Cape Cod Sea Sports of Hyannis will present free vessel-safety demonstrations covering SUPs at 11 a.m. and kayaks at 1 p.m.

Water Safety

Barnstable Fire Chief Frank Pulsifer is one of the event organizers. Chief Pulsifer says, “We want to raise awareness of safety on the water, especially the use of personal flotation devices. Beyond that, we want to encourage users of kayaks and SUPs to apply identification stickers to their vessels. We have had instances where these watercraft have drifted from shore and been found unattended. We have to assume the worst and mount search-and-rescue missions, which tie up valuable and expensive resources. If those vessels have a sticker with the name and number of the owner it would simplify things and even eliminate the need for a search in the first place.” The Barnstable Fire Department will be handing out free kayak and SUP ID stickers during the event.

Sun Safety

Summer and water sports are accompanied by the health risks presented by overexposure to the sun. The sun safety component of the event is being sponsored by the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment. County Public Health Nurse Deirdre Arvidson will be on hand with materials explaining the ways to protect the skin from the dangers of the sun including skin cancer. “We will have information on the correct way to apply sunscreen and the use of protective clothing and hats,” she says. “When spending time outdoors around reflective surfaces like sand and water, people really need to cover up. We want to share the things you can do to protect your skin and eyes and still enjoy the beach and boating.”

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