National Don’t Fry Day

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, and millions of people celebrate the changing season by seeking out the sun’s rays. Longer, sunnier days encourage more outdoor activity, but they also bring a heightened risk of skin cancer caused by prolonged exposure to the sun’s harmful rays. That is why the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention designated the Friday before Memorial Day as Don’t Fry Day: to encourage people to protect their skin while they enjoy the outdoors, on this day and every day.

Don’t Fry Day was first founded in 2008 by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention along with partner organizations. The story starts in November of 2008, when Dr. Jeff Ashley, the president of Sun Safety for Kids, presented a proposal to the Council for a national observance focused on sun protection, and suggested the catchy name “Don’t Fry Day.” The Council’s member organizations accepted the proposal, the Council agreed to serve as the official sponsor, and the observance was set for the Friday before Memorial Day each year.

The reason for the day is serious, and the numbers explain why. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the nation. Approximately 9,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer every day, which is more than breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancers combined, and one out of every five Americans will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer in their lifetime. Since more than 90 percent of skin cancers are caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun or from indoor tanning devices, sun safety awareness can help reduce the future risk of developing skin cancer, including melanoma. The good news is that skin cancer is highly preventable, and the day’s whole mission is to make the simple protective habits feel easy and normal.

Observing the day is refreshingly simple, and it starts with a four beat mantra: Slip! Slop! Slap! and Wrap! Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses. The Council’s guidance adds the details: do not burn or tan intentionally, seek shade during peak times of the day, generously apply sunscreen and remember to reapply it every two hours, wear sun protective clothing, and use extra caution near water, snow, and sand, which reflect and intensify the rays. Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays can still penetrate your skin, so sun safety is a year round habit, not just a summer one. The EPA even offers Don’t Fry Day themed posters and desktop backgrounds to help spread the word.

Each year the Council gives the observance a fresh theme to keep the message personal. One recent campaign, “Sun Safety, Make It Yours,” highlighted each person’s responsibility to keep themselves and their loved ones sun safe, a message the Council’s co-chair, Dr. Jeffrey Gershenwald, has championed in national announcements. The campaign materials remind families that sun safety is not a single product or a single habit, but a small collection of easy choices: not burning or tanning, covering up with hats and sunglasses, wearing sun protective clothing, seeking shade during peak hours, and applying sunscreen generously and often.

It helps to know what you are protecting yourself from. There are several types of skin cancer: melanoma is the deadliest, while basal cell carcinoma is the most common. The encouraging news is that early detection of skin cancer can help cure it, which is why dermatologists urge everyone to follow protective measures and keep an eye on their skin. Learn the ABCDEs of moles, schedule regular skin checks, and see a dermatologist about anything new, changing, or unusual. Sun safety and early detection together are a powerful pair, and Don’t Fry Day is the perfect annual nudge to take both seriously.

Two more habits round out the sun safety toolkit. First, check the UV index before heading outdoors and plan strenuous activities outside of midday, when the sun is at its peak and the rays are strongest. Second, skip the tanning bed entirely: no tan is a safe tan, and indoor tanning devices deliver the same ultraviolet radiation that drives skin cancer risk. The Council’s message is refreshingly balanced too, encouraging people to get vitamin D safely with just 10 to 15 minutes of sensible sunshine a day. Sun safety is not about hiding from summer; it is about enjoying every bit of it wisely.

THE STORY BEHIND NATIONAL DON’T FRY DAY

📅 A 2008 Proposal With a Catchy Name
In November 2008, Dr. Jeff Ashley, president of Sun Safety for Kids, presented a proposal to the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention for a national observance to focus attention on sun protection. He suggested choosing a Friday and calling it “Don’t Fry Day.” The Council’s member organizations accepted the proposal, the Council became the official sponsor, and the observance was set for the Friday prior to Memorial Day each year.

🤝 A Council of 40 Plus Organizations
The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention is a coalition whose member organizations include the American Cancer Society, the American Academy of Dermatology, the US EPA, and the US CDC, among some 40 additional medical and cancer advocacy organizations. When that many heavy hitters agree on a message, it is worth listening: protect your skin today and every day.

📊 The Numbers Behind the Name
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Approximately 9,500 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with skin cancer every day, more than breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancers combined, and one in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime. More than 90 percent of skin cancers are caused by ultraviolet radiation, from the sun or from indoor tanning devices, which means most of them were preventable.

🧴 Slip! Slop! Slap! and Wrap!
The day’s signature mantra is four beats long and easy to remember. Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses. Generously apply sunscreen and reapply every two hours, seek shade when the sun is at its peak, and get your vitamin D safely with just a few minutes of sensible sun.

☀️ Sun Safety Is Not Just for Summer
The sun emits harmful UV rays all year long, which is why dermatologists call for year round sunscreen use. Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate your skin. Don’t Fry Day lands at the start of summer because that is when everyone heads outside, but the habits it teaches work beautifully in every season.

WAYS TO CELEBRATE

🧴 Build Your Sun Safety Kit
At home, assemble a grab and go kit: a bottle of sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, a wide brimmed hat, UV protective sunglasses, and a lightweight long sleeved shirt. Stash it by the door so the whole household can slip, slop, slap, and wrap on the way out.

👕 Audit the Sunscreen Drawer
With friends or family, pull out every sunscreen bottle in the house and check the expiration dates, since old sunscreen loses its punch. Toss what is expired, replace it, and practice the two hour reapplication rule together before the next outdoor adventure.

🔊 Spread the Word on Sun Safety
In the community, share the Don’t Fry Day message with a school, team, or club heading into summer. Post your sun safe setup with #DontFryDay, and remind everyone that there is no such thing as a safe tan, only a safe day in the sun.

Celebrate National Don’t Fry Day

On May 28, 2027, enjoy every minute of the sunshine and keep your skin happy while you do it. Slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen, slap on a hat, wrap on the sunglasses, and make sun safety yours today and every day.