The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as “Don’t Fry Day” to encourage everyone to be sun safe while enjoying the outdoors as they kick off the summer season. The goal of Don’t Fry Day is to raise awareness about sun safety and skin cancer prevention. Check out these tips below to help keep you extra safe!

Make sunscreen part of your daily routine:

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 or higher for protection from UVA and UVB radiation

Apply 30 minutes before going outdoors

Reapply every two hours or more frequently if sweating or in water

Wear protective clothing:

A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses

Long-sleeved shirt and pants

UPF clothing or use a UPF additive in your washer

Be smart around the sun:

Stay out of the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM; this is when the sun’s rays are the strongest

Seek shade when possible from an umbrella, tree, or other shade structure

Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand. These surfaces reflect the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chance of sunburn

Check the UV index before heading outside and protect your skin accordingly

Do not burn or tan:

Never tan intentionally

Do not use tanning beds

Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds causes skin cancer and premature aging

Doing one of these practices is helpful; doing more is even better and will provide you with more protection. It is especially important to protect children from the harmful effects of the sun because sunburns during childhood increase the risk of getting skin cancer later in life. Be a positive role model and if you are in the Home Office send Haley an email for your prize!