‘Don’t Fry Day’ promotes skin cancer prevention; E.P.A. urges everyone to be smart in the sun [NY Edition]
Category:Air Type: News Source: EPA Date: Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
(New York, N.Y.) As millions of families prepare to enjoy the great outdoors this weekend, the E.P.A. (EPA) reminds everyone to bring their hats, sunglasses and sunscreen, and seek shade. The number one preventable risk factor for skin cancer is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, whether from the sun or artificial sources of light. To educate the public about how to prevent skin cancer and cataracts, E.P.A. has teamed up with the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention to promote sun safety on the Friday before Memorial Day - "Don't Fry Day."
"Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the United States," said Judith Enck, E.P.A. Regional Administrator. "The good news is you can protect yourself and your family members from too much sun, the main cause of skin cancer. E.P.A. is educating the public about the dangers of UV rays and the benefits of sun-safe behavior. Informed actions taken every day by individuals are an important part of protecting the health of children, families and the environment."
More new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year than new cases of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer combined, with in excess of one million Americans affected every year. While the incidence of many common cancers is falling, the incidence of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, continues to rise significantly. Melanoma is now one of the most common cancers among young adults ages 15 to 29.
Approximately 1,600 men and 1,300 women are diagnosed with melanoma each year in New York State, accounting for approximately three percent of cancers among men and 2.5 percent of cancers among women. About 7,500 men and 6,900 women who currently reside in New York have had diagnoses of melanoma within the past 5 years.
E.P.A. is promoting Don't Fry Day through its SunWise program, in which students across the country are learning how to Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap, and Seek Shade: Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen (SPF 15+), slap on a wide-brimmed hat, wrap on sunglasses, and seek shade during midday hours.
SunWise is the nation's biggest environmental and health education plan aimed at teaching children to protect their skin. On Don't Fry Day, schools will be broadcasting the UV Index over their loud speakers, engaging in SunWise activities, and holding school-wide sun safety events. The UV Index is a forecast of the next-day's peak UV radiation level for any given location in the U.S.
Water your lawn in the evening or early in the morning so that it is absorbed by the soil rather than evaporated by the sun. Set your sprinklers carefully to avoid wasting water on pavement.
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