Findlay Cadillac Saab Service Manager Bill Buckley is shown with a UV Warning Signal he installed recently at the dealership in the Valley Automall.

Findlay Cadillac Saab has added a unique feature to its dealership to provide awareness regarding the dangers of sunlight and skin cancer.

A UV Warning Signal was installed on the north wall of the service drive by dealership Service Manager Bill Buckley. The signal was donated to the dealership by William H. Barth, president and CEO of the Skin Cancer Awareness Foundation in Minden.

The dealership is a strong supporter of the Skin Cancer Awareness Foundation.

“We were the first business in the nation to have the UV Warning Signal installed,” explained Pat Wall, marketing director for Findlay Cadillac. “Mr. Barth and Stacey Escalante called to ask if I would be on their board to help with Skin Cancer Awareness. The key is to get people out of the sun, especially in an area like this where we have more than 300 days of sunlight each year.

“It is our mission to place these meters in schools, parks and businesses to make the public aware of the dangers of direct sunlight, which can result in Melanoma, which if left untreated, is the deadliest form of cancer.

” The SLC-51 UV meter is powered by a 120-volt AC and automatically turns on when exposed to the UV radiation. The exposure category is illuminated based on its representative color for the corresponding UV range. The meter automatically turns on when exposed to the UV radiation.

The UV Warning Meter has five levels including purple, which illustrates an 11+ rating and extreme conditions; and red with an 8-10 very high rating.

The other three designations include orange, moderate 6-7; and yellow, moderate at 3-5. Sun screen protection is recommended for the top five ratings.

The green designation relates to low exposure with no sun screen recommended.

“Installation required about 50 feet of wiring,” Buckley explained. “We also used hose clamps to the side of the building. It is really is a neat addition. I have seen it get all the way to red, but I have never seen it get to purple yet. I go out and look at it at 4-5 in the afternoon, and it’s always in the red.

Unfortunately, people don’t think about the dangers of the sun many times until it’s too late.

” Barth said the request for the meter came through Escalante, a former KVBC TV-3 reporter whose fight to overcome cancer has become widely-known throughout the valley.

“We now have the meters at both Findlay Cadillac Saab and KVBC TV-3,” he explained. “I also have one at my ranch in Minden.

” Barth’s own story is also interesting.

“I once heard a soccer coach tell the players that Gatorade was more important than sun screen, and it really upset me,” he said. “Since 2002, I have invested more than $2 million of my own money into this.

” Barth said the foundation is starting a campaign entitled “Shade Across America” to bring awareness to the dangers of skin cancer. In all, the campaign includes 2,400 schools and 11 countries. He also added that he is working with seven countries to have the UV Warning Signal installed on beaches.

Barth also lauded Findlay Cadillac Saab along with Findlay Automotive Group for its involvement with the cause.

Further information can be found at www.skincaf.org.

Findlay Cadillac Saab is part of the Findlay Automotive Group of dealerships. The store is led by general manager John Saksa.

The umbrella of new and used car dealerships was founded in 1961 by the late Pete Findlay, whose son, Cliff, now spearheads operations in Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Idaho.

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