Fond du Lac County has received a state grant that will focus on skin cancer awareness. Fond du Lac County has received a $10,000 environmental health project grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says locally the project will focus on improving local sun safety practices and increasing awareness of the importance of sun protection. Fond du Lac County has the 7th highest rate of melanoma skin cancer out of the 72 counties in Wisconsin. According to the 2017 Fond du Lac County Community Health Survey Report, half of adults in Fond du Lac County never or rarely wear sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher when outside on a warm, sunny day. Mueller says as part of the project, the Health Department will work with community partners to offer free sunscreen at parks, playgrounds, and community pools, and implement a public awareness campaign to highlight the importance of being sun safe outdoors and protecting yourself from skin cancer. The Health Department would also encourage businesses with outdoor worksites to offer sunscreen to workers.
