Sun Safety Tips for Labor Day Weekend

By Patch Editor Sonia Dasgupta

With the last official weekend of summer ahead of us, it's easy to want to soak in the rays on a beach or a boat, and spend some time outdoors. 

But those UVs can lead to a sunburn and can hurt your skin, exposing you to different types of melanoma or skin cancer. 

So, before you head outside, grab a hat, sunglasses and some sunblock (50 SPF or more is the best) and maybe even check the UV index, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's SunWise website.

According to an official release from the EPA, one American dies every hour from skin cancer.

Consider these tips from the EPA before you head outside this weekend:

1. Slip, slop, slap, wrap. Slip on a shirt. Slop on sunscreen. Slap on a hat and wrap on sunglasses to protect your body from overexposure to the sun.

2. Seek shade. Find shade during the sun’s peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to reduce the risk of too much sun exposure.

3. Check the UV Index. When planning outdoor activities, check the UV Index to identify the times that pose the greatest risk for overexposure to the sun.

Check out the EPA's SunWise website for more information about sun safety.