“Don’t Fry Day” kicks off holiday weekend

With the arrival of the summer season, the EPA and the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention have designated the Friday before Memorial Day Weekend as “Don’t Fry Day”, a day of educating the public about the dangers of overexposure to the sun’s harmful rays.

Spending days outside exercising and enjoying the warm weather is healthy as long as caution is taken to avoid excessive sun exposure.
Although the incidence of many cancers is falling in the United States, skin cancer is on the rise. Melanoma cases, the most deadly of the skin cancers, continues to rise at significant rates. Over a million skin cancer cases are reported annually. One of the greatest risk factors for developing skin cancer is the easiest to prevent.

Overexposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays is the main cause of skin cancers and studies have shown that tanning bed exposure to these rays also significantly increases the likelihood of developing skin cancer.
UV rays are strongest at midday so this is the time to be extra cautionary. Try to plan outdoor activities before 10:00am or after 4:00 pm. Water surfaces and bright sand reflect sunlight and burns can happen much faster in these environments. Clothing to cover the top of the head, shoulders, arms and tops of feet is essential during midday hours if. Use plenty of sunscreen as directed, reapplying after swimming or heavy perspiration during exercise. Different skin types are more susceptible to burning but all skin types can develop cancer. Sunglasses with UV protection help prevent eye damage.