MEDIA

“To protect and improve 
the health and environment ADVISORYof the people of Colorado.” 

4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246 303-692-2021 


Contact: Dave Brendsel 

Communications Manager, Center for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention 

 303-888-7237 

David.Brendsel@state.co.us 

For Immediate Release Thursday, May 27, 2010 

Memorial Day Weekend 
Marks the Unofficial Beginning of Summer and Sunburn 


DENVER—The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention designated the Friday before 
Memorial Day as “Don’t Fry Day” in an effort to remind people to protect their skin while 
spending time outdoors. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment joins the 
effort, reminding Coloradans that sun protection becomes even more important in a high-altitude 
environment with an average of 300 sunny days each year. 

Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the primary risk factor for skin cancer, which is 
on the rise across Colorado and the country. Each year, there are more new cases of skin cancer 
in the United States than new cases of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined. 
Approximately 68,700 cases of malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, were 
diagnosed in the United States in 2009. 

UV radiation becomes more intense at higher altitudes. According to the Colorado Central 
Cancer Registry, Colorado melanoma incidence rates were 16 percent higher than the U.S. rate 
for men and 21 percent higher than the U.S. rate for women in 2006. The registry projects that 
more than 1,500 Coloradans will be diagnosed with melanoma in 2010 and more than 200 will 
die from it. 

One in seven Colorado melanomas is diagnosed in someone under the age of 30, highlighting 
the need to protect children from overexposure to the sun and teach them sun safety behaviors. 

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According to the American Cancer Society, severe sunburns in childhood may greatly increase 
the risk of melanoma later in life. 

The Colorado Cancer Coalition’s Sun Safe Colorado site recommends protecting you and 
your children from overexposure to UV rays by taking the following sun safety steps: 

Know Your Risk – Everyone's risk for skin cancer is different and understanding the unique 
cancer risks for you and your family is important for implementing appropriate prevention 
strategies. 

Check the UV Index – The UV Index site provides a forecast of UV overexposure risk and 
indicates the degree of caution you should take when outdoors. 

Schedule Time Wisely – Avoid long outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the 
sun’s rays are the strongest. 

Wear Appropriate Clothing – Clothing can block the sun’s harmful rays and should be one 
of the first lines of defense against sun exposure. 

Wear a Hat – A hat with a brim of 3 inches or more offers the best method of minimizing 
ultraviolet radiation to the face, head, ears and neck. 

Wear Sunglasses – Sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection are common, inexpensive 
and can prevent short- and long-term damage to the eyes. 

Apply Sunscreen – Generously apply sunscreen and lip balm with a Sun Protection Factor 
(SPF) of 15 or greater every two hours, after swimming and even on cloudy days. Clouds block 
only 20 to 40 percent of UV rays. 

In Colorado, sun safety is a year-round activity. The National Council on Skin Cancer 
Prevention recommends examining your skin regularly for changes in moles or skin growth, 
avoiding tanning beds and making UV protection a lifelong practice. 

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