EPA asks Virginia Residents to Be Sun-Wise and Sun-Safe this Summer (PA)
(PHILADELPHIA -
May 27, 2011)— Every hour, one
American dies from skin cancer – the number one cancer in the
U.S. To help people learn easy ways to combat the disease, the U.S.
EPA SunWise program has partnered with the National Council on Skin
Cancer Prevention to designate today, the Friday before Memorial
Day as “Don’t Fry Day.” EPA encourages Virginia
residents to learn about and practice sun-safe behaviors this
“Don’t Fry Day” to reduce overexposure to
ultraviolet (UV) radiation – the main cause of skin
cancer.
“Whether families and friends are going to
the beach, a baseball game, or enjoying a backyard event, everyone
should put on sunscreen and wear clothing and sunglasses that
protect them from harmful UV rays," said EPA’s mid-Atlantic
Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. "If you don’t do this
already, I encourage you and your family to start this healthy
habit today.”
Each Memorial Day weekend, millions of Americans
kick off the summer season and begin enjoying the great outdoors.
Though skin cancer risks exist all year long, the dangers are even
greater during the summer months, when the days are longer, and
more people are outside for longer periods of time. Several area zoos are
helping educate the public about sun safety, including: Virginia
Zoo, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Museum, and Alexandria
Zoo.
For “Don’t Fry Day,” EPA
encourages residents to practice the Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap sun-safety tips:
· Slop on SPF 15+ sunscreen generously;
· Slap on a hat; and
· Wrap on sunglasses.
In the U.S., skin cancer affects more than two million people each year, outnumbering the cases of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined. One in five Americans will develop the disease in their lifetime. Meanwhile, melanoma—the most serious form of skin cancer— is on the rise. It is the most common cancer among young adults ages 25 to 29.
Listen to EPA’s regional children’s health coordinator talk about ways to avoid over exposure to the sun;
https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-3-mid-atlantic
For more on “Don’t Fry Day” and additional sun safety resources, including a sun safety packing list and new public service announcements created by kids in K-8, go to: https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/dfd.html.
EPA’s SunWise program is a national environmental and health education program that teaches children and their caregivers how to be safe in the sun through the use of classroom-, school-, and community-based components. To learn more about free SunWise resources, download the UV Index widget or smart phone application, or sign up to receive daily UV Index forecasts, visit www.epa.gov/sunwise.