Skin cancer incidence in the United States has increased. Exposure to ultra
violet radiation (WR) is a major risk factor for skin cancer. Every year, m
illions of children with their families Visit outdoor leisure facilities su
ch as toes where overexposure to UVR may occur. This study was conducted to
assess the proportion of U.S. toes that provided sun safety activities dur
ing the summer of 1998 and their willingness to incorporate skin cancer pre
vention strategies at their facility in the future. A 56 item self-administ
ered questionnaire was mailed to 140 toes accredited by the American Zoo an
d Aquarium Association. A follow-up telephone survey was also conducted wit
h 33 mail non-respondents. The response rare was 97% (N = 136), Results rev
ealed that in the summer of 1998, only 5% of toes provided sun safety recom
mendations to visitors and 25% of toes provided recommendations to their em
ployees. The recommendations made most often to visitors and employees were
to use sunscreen and wear protective clothing. Eighty-five percent of toes
indicated interest in providing sun safety activities at their facilities
in the future. The next step will be to design environmentally appropriate
sun safety programs for toes and to encourage toes to implement these progr
ams.