Join Us on National Don’t Fry Day
Are you hip to “National Don’t Fry Day”?
To help reduce rising rates of skin cancer from overexposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun, the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as “Don’t Fry Day” to encourage sun safety awareness and to remind everyone to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors. Because no single step can fully protect you and your family from overexposure to UV radiation, follow as many of the following tips as possible:
- Do Not Burn or Tan
- Seek Shade
- Wear Sun-Protective Clothing
- Generously Apply Sunscreen
- Use Extra Caution Near Water, Snow, and Sand
- Get Vitamin D Safely
The risk for UV damage to the skin increases as we spend more time enjoying the outdoors. We need to take precautions when we are outside in the sun. Using sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, wearing sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat are a few ways to get started with sun safety.
Skin cancer is curable if it is found early. The estimated five-year survival rate for patients whose melanoma is detected early is about 99 percent in the U.S. The survival rate falls to 63 percent when the disease reaches the lymph nodes and 20 percent when the disease metastasizes to distant organs. Be aware of changes on your skin with growths and in moles. See your doctor if you have any concerns. Be safe!
Are you a Parks & Recreation Organization? Join us!
Sign up to receive notification of the date and time by emailing PracticeSafeSkin@impactmelanoma.org.
As a member of the National Council on Skin Cancer Awareness, IMPACT Melanoma invites you to join us this year in recognizing National Don’t Fry Day. If you purchase one of our automatic sunscreen dispensers or re-up on your supplies, we’ll add you to our outgoing marketing campaign (which includes a press release, social media callouts, newsletter mention, etc.) of Parks & Rec organizations that are taking the pledge to protect the skin of their inherent communities and visitors. Have questions? Join us for an informative conference call that will go over all the particulars. To gather updates sign up to receive notification of the date and time by emailing PracticeSafeSkin@impactmelanoma.org.
Our friend Gigi Simmons (former Development and Partnership Program Coordinator of the City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department – responsible for the initiation and implementation of 50 dispensers throughout Gainesville) had this to say:
The importance of having sunscreen dispensers in our parks and facilities is vast. The installation of sunscreen dispensers will allow everyone, no matter color, age, or economic status, the opportunity to use “free sunscreen.” For our City to take the lead and become stewards of this great community, it’s an awesome service and accomplishment I feel proud to be involved with.
The engagement process with IMPACT Melanoma was seamless. Laurie Seavey was a great communicator as she navigated me through the process. She was very diligent and detailed when explaining the necessary steps that would need to be taken in order to make this process a success!
Anytime I have a chance to impact in someone’s life (in a positive way), It makes my job fulfilling and gratifying! On a personal level it allows me to interact with people that are not aware of the dangers of skin cancer. This project has given me the opportunity to educate a certain population that would have otherwise been clueless and to see it come into fruition is awesome! Cancer DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. Apply sunscreen today – Tomorrow maybe too late!”
