As Palm Beach continues to grapple with street-clogging traffic, traffic-mitigation officers are spending hours in the sun helping to manage the record number of cars on the street.
Acknowledging the risk posed by prolonged exposure to the Florida sun, the nonprofit Palm Beach Police & Fire Foundation has underwritten an $11,000 purchase of 70 wide-brim Stetson Kenton straw cowboy hats. The hats retail for around $170 each.
“Traffic management has become one of the town’s most visible and challenging responsibilities, and our officers spend long hours outdoors keeping Palm Beach safe and moving. Even with the sunblock, water and cooling towels the department provides, many officers come back from their shifts sunburned,” Palm Beach Police Chief Nicolas Caristo said in prepared statement.
“We began looking for additional ways to protect them, and we’re grateful to the (foundation) for stepping in with a solution that will help safeguard their health while they do this vital work.”
Medical experts have noted that prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation can pose a significant risk to those who work extensive hours outdoors. Researchers from the World Health Organization have found that those who work outdoors — including police officers — face a 60% increased risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer.
That risk is especially high in Florida, which ranks among the states with rates of melanoma incidence well above the national average, according to the news release.
The foundation is committed to protecting “the health and safety of the men and women who serve this community,” Tim Moran, the group’s co-founder and vice chairman, said in the release. “These officers are on the front lines of one of Palm Beach’s most pressing daily challenges, and we’re proud to support and help protect them in this simple but meaningful way.”
Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Foundation funds sun-shading straw hats for Palm Beach traffic cops
Reporting by Diego Diaz Lasa, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
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