Over a million people will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year.

90% of skin cancer is caused by over exposure to sun.

One bad burn in childhood doubles the risk for developing melanoma later in life.

Someone dies from skin cancer every hour.

Practice good habits to keep you and your family safe as skin cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer.

Buy and apply sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher.

Do a "patch" test by putting a small amount of sunscreen on the inside of your child's wrist a day or two before you plan to use it to test for irritation and allergies.

Babies under 6 months of age should not be exposed to direct sunlight or sunscreen.

Apply sunscreen at least an hour before going outside, and reapply every 2 hours.  If your child is playing in the water or sweating a lot, reapply more often.

Don't forget those little hands, ears, nose, lips, and the area around the eyes.  Zinc oxide on the nose and ears can provide extra protection.  An SPF 15 lip balm should be applied to the lips, and toddlers may enjoy applying it themselves.  UV-blocking sunglasses will protect the eye area.

Avoid outdoor activities during the height of the sun’s harmful rays between 10:00a.m and 4:00p.m.

The ozone layer shields the Earth from harmful UV radiation. Ozone depletion, weather, and the seasons cause different amounts of UV radiation to reach the Earth. The UV Index tells you how much. To find out what the UV Index forecast is where you live visit this page and enter your zip code.

Visit  www.epa.gov/sunwise for more valuable information.