NOW that we’re into the season of sun, sand, and summer fun, parents need to remember that it’s also the season of slip, slop, slap, seek shade, and slide.
That’s the advice from a Mid West cancer prevention specialist who is warning that the annual SunSmart campaign, the HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) begins in April, even if there’s no obvious sun.
Bernadette Mullins, senior health promotion and improvement officer for cancer prevention with HSE Mid West, says that “a child’s skin is very sensitive to UV rays from the sun, and sunburn during childhood increases the risk of developing skin cancer as an adult.”
“Overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, even in April, increases the risk of sunburn.”
Protection can be had by following the Healthy Ireland SunSmart 5 S’s.
Slip on clothing; cover skin as much as possible; slop on broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen; slap on a wide-brimmed hat; seek shade; and slide on sunglasses with UV protection.
Dr Breeda Neville, the NCCP’s specialist in public health medicine, HSE National Cancer Control Programme added that “the high levels of sunburn experienced by both children and their parents are concerning”.
She said that adhering to the 5 S’s is “just as important here in Ireland as it is when holidaying abroad, as from April to September the sun’s UV rays are strong enough to damage skin and increase the risk of skin cancer, even on cloudy days”.
For more information, visit the SunSmart hub at hse.ie/sunsmart.
