21 May ‘Don’t Fry Day’ coming May 25

This coming Friday, May 25, is “Don’t Fry Day.”
The weather keeps getting better and Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start to summer, which means lots of good times and fun in the sun.
Make sure that while you’re out in the sun you’re taking steps to protect your skin from the sun’s dangerous rays. The point of “Don’t Fry Day” is to raise awareness about sun safety.
Ultraviolet rays that come from the sun and other sources like tanning beds are the No. 1 cause of skin cancer, which just so happens to be the most common cancer in the United States.
Prolonged unprotected exposure to the sun can also cause sunburn, eye damage and premature wrinkles.
Here are five tips to protect yourself against the sun’s rays:
1. Cover up – Wear proper clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to protect as much skin as possible. Protect your eyes with sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of UV light.
2. Use sunscreen – Find sunscreen products with SPF 30 or greater and be sure to reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.
3. Seek shade – Limit direct exposure to the sun by taking breaks when you’re in shade, or set up your outdoor activities in a shaded area. It’s most important to stay out of direct sunlight when possible between peak hours for UV rays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
4. Be especially aware of kids’ protection – Children are especially at risk for sun burns because they don’t know to put sun screen on or proper clothing, but they tend to be outside for long hours in the summer. Sunburns during childhood increase the risk of melanoma and other skin cancers later in life.
5. Be prepared – You don’t have to stay out of the sun altogether, just be sure to be smart about sun exposure and take the proper steps to protect yourself on “Don’t Fry Day” and every other day when you’re outside and the sun is shining.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com