A San Diego State University professor wants to change the Post Office uniform. It's just one of her suggestions after a four-year study on letter carriers and sun protection. KPBS reporter Nicole Lozare has more.
Doctor Joni Mayer began Project Sunwise with $2 million-plus grant from the National Cancer Institute. The problem was obvious. Mail carriers are in the sun a lot, but they hardly use hats or sunscreen.
The study provided sunscreen and comfortable, wide-brimmed hats to thousands of mail carriers in Southern California. Health officials gave sun damage talks while carriers sorted mail.
Researchers found that carriers were twice as likely to use sun protection when sunscreen and comfortable hats were provided for them. Mayer says Project Sunwise left a lasting impression with San Diego mail carriers.
Mayer: Some of the stations are finding ways to provide their own sunscreen for now like getting money from recycling or taking up money among themselves.
Mayer is now in talks with the U.S. Postal Service to expand the program nationwide.
Nicole Lozare, KPBS News.
