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Mayor, Health Department Urge Residents to Be “Sun Safe” This Summer

Post Date:05/31/2016 4:00 PM

STAMFORD, CT – Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer season. Mayor David Martin, the City of Stamford’s Department of Health & Social Services, and the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention are reminding residents to protect their skin from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays to prevent skin cancer. The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has named the Friday before Memorial Day “Don’t Fry Day.”

“I will be outside this weekend, and I will be wearing sunscreen and a hat. It is important to protect your skin when you are outside,” said Mayor Martin. “I was one of 76,000 people to be diagnosed this year with Melanoma, which was in part because I wasn’t as careful with my sunscreen as I should have been when I was younger. I encourage everyone to take the extra minute or two to put on sunscreen, a hat and a shirt when they are outside to protect themselves from the sun’s harmful rays. It is worth it.”

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. More people will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year than breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer combined. The good news is that most skin cancers can be prevented.  The most preventable cause of skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, either from the sun or from artificial sources like tanning beds.

Follow these important tips for lowering skin cancer risk by limiting skin’s exposure to intense sunlight and by using sunscreen. Remember that it is important to protect skin on cloudy and overcast days as well. 

  • Do not burn - Avoid direct sun exposure during the day’s most intense sun, between 10AM and 4PM.  Seek shade during these hours.
  • Remember the American Cancer Society’s “Slip, Slop, Slap, & Wrap” rules.
    • Slip on a shirt – Protective, lightweight clothing can help to protect skin from the sun’s rays.
    • Slop on sunscreen – Sunscreen and lip balm with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 should be applied generously 30 minutes before outdoor activities.  Remember to reapply every two hours and after swimming, toweling off, or sweating.
    • Slap on a hat – Hats with wide brims can protect eyes, face, neck, and ears.
    • Wrap on sunglasses – Don’t forget to protect eyes from the sun’s ultra-violet rays. Select glasses with 100% UVA/UVB protection.
  • According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, even on cloudy days, about 80% of UV rays can reach our skin.
  • Check the UV Index  - The UV Index provides important information to help plan outdoor activities in ways that prevent overexposure to the sun. Developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) and EPA, the UV Index can be found online at: www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.

Enjoy the sunshine and outdoors this season while keeping these recommendations in mind.  For more information on skin cancer prevention and detection, visit the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.

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