IMPACT Melanoma set to celebrate National Don’t Fry Day

May 7, 2018

This article was originally published on PR Newswire.

IMPACT Melanoma, a nonprofit aimed at providing education, prevention, and support for the most serious form of skin cancer, and active member of the National Council on Skin Care Prevention, has collaborated with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to saturate the nation in sunscreen this coming “Don’t Fry Day,” an annual awareness initiative occurring on Friday, May 25, 2018.

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 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.

In conjunction, IMPACT Melanoma and their Practice Safe Skin program has put a plan in action with NRPA to position the potential acquisition and utilization of automatic sunscreen dispensers in Parks and Recreation facilities around the country. At this time, IMPACT has received confirmation from 45 different park and recreation agencies bringing sunscreen dispensers into their facilities to aide in the safe skin practice of their patrons in celebration of National Don’t Fry Day and beyond.

Participating locations include:

• 26 Wyoming State Parks
• Clinton County Health Department in Plattsburgh, NY
• Boynton Beach in Florida

“NRPA is proud to collaborate with IMPACT Melanoma on this important initiative,” said Kellie May, NRPA director of health and wellness. “Many people spend time in the sun at their local parks and recreation centers. By making sunscreen accessible at these places we are making a positive difference in the fight against melanoma and other forms of skin cancer.”

A recent study from The University of Colorado cited the Practice Safe Skin program as an influencing force behind the proactive decrease in melanoma rates. Melanoma is rising faster than any other cancer with one person every 50 minutes dying from the disease. Studies show that with daily sunscreen protection, the risk of melanoma is preventable.

These specially designed Bright Guard dispensers, which are being purchased and installed across the country, are part of Practice Safe Skin, a program that offers sunscreen as an effective preventive measure to help avoid sun over-exposure year round. Each sunscreen dispenser is equipped with 4 – 1,000 mL pouches of hypoallergenic broad-spectrum SPF-30 sunscreen (available in four different varieties), safe for people aged 6-months and up. Ingredients are printed on the machines upon installation.

“We’re so pleased to be working with our friends at NRPA to raise sun safe awareness and bring safety measures to parks around the country,” said Deb Girard, Executive Director, IMPACT Melanoma. “It’s imperative that we team together whenever we can to reduce the risk of skin cancer and melanoma. That starts with educated and effective sun safe practices, and together we can all make a great, positive impact on just that.”