Thursday, May 26, 2011

The Friday before Memorial Day is "Don't Fry Day," an great time to remind people at the start of summer about the dangers from exposure to the sun's harmful rays.

Over exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is on the rise in America and is the most common cancer among young adults aged 25-29.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SunWise program and the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention are working together to provide simple tips on protecting yourself that could save lives.

One American dies from skin cancer every hour. It is the most common type of cancer in the United States, where 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.

As millions of Americans kick off the summer season this Memorial Day weekend by enjoying the great outdoors, EPA encourages families to learn about sun-safe practices and to reduce overexposure to ultraviolet (UV).

More information on "Don't Fry Day" and additional sun safety resources: CLICK HERE.