National Sun Safety Week
Americans will spend more time outdoors enjoying the sunny weather. The Sun Safety Alliance recognizes the importance of outdoor physical activity, but encourages people to exercise precaution when spending time in the sun in order to reduce their risk of developing skin problems.
“One American dies every hour from skin cancer. With more than one million cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year, skin cancer is more common than all other major types of cancer combined,” said Jeff Ashley, M.D., Board-certified dermatologist. “Yet ironically it’s probably the most preventable type of cancer since the vast majority are simply due to overexposure to the sun.”
The Sun Safety Alliance recommends the following tips for playing it safe in the sun:
- Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.
- Apply sunscreen before going outdoors and reapply often, especially after swimming, perspiring or toweling off.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat and UV protective sunglasses to protect the face and eyes.
- DO NOT USE tanning beds or sun lamps.
- You can sunburn even on a cloudy day, always wear sunscreen.
- Be aware – concrete, sand, water and snow reflect 85-90% of the sun’s UV rays.
- Try to get your outside activities completed in the early morning or late afternoon as the sun is the strongest between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Lat year, the Sun Safety Alliance teamed up with Banana Boat and pro beach volleyball player, Jeff Nygaard, to implement a health promotion campaign in conjunction with the 2008 Association of Volleyball Players (AVP) Crocs Tour. As a three-time Olympian and melanoma survivor, Nygaard uses his tour travel to share his personal story of battling melanoma, generate awareness for skin cancer prevention and offer tips about how to stay sun safe.
“Being out in the sun caused me to develop two forms of skin cancer,” said Nygaard. “From that point forward, I haven’t taken for granted my exposure to the sun and I’ve tried to live a healthier, safer lifestyle outdoors.”
“We want our athletes, and all Americans to live a healthy, active lifestyle,” said Leonard Armato, CEO and commissioner of the AVP Crocs Tour. “At the same time, we are committed to helping people understand the real dangers involved with overexposure to the sun.”
To learn more, please visit the Sun Safety Alliance.
