It’s time to get back into the habit of donning a hat and slapping on some sunscreen before you head outside for the day.
As winter winds down across Victoria, schools across the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges will once more ask the kids to don their hats for playtime.
Parents and school staff are encouraged to support students and staff to use a combination of sun protection measures when UV index levels are 3 or above (generally from mid-August to the end of April in Victoria, which covers most of the school year).
Melanoma is one of the most diagnosed cancers in young Victorians aged 15 to 29 years. It is the third most diagnosed cancer in Australia.
The main cause of skin cancer is exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation and overexposure to the sun’s UV radiation during childhood and adolescence is a major risk for future skin cancer.
Skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. Schools play an important role in promoting and teaching sun and UV protection behaviours that students benefit from throughout life.
UV radiation cannot be seen or felt, can be reflected off surfaces such as buildings, asphalt, concrete, water, sand and snow, can pass through light clouds, and varies in intensity across the day and the year (highest from mid-August to the end of April in Victoria) and is at its peak during school hours.
Overexposure to UV radiation can cause, sunburn, skin damage, eye damage, premature ageing and skin cancer.
Sunscreen should also be applied 20 minutes before outside time and used in along with other sun protection measures (hat, clothing, shade and sunglasses)
You can track the daily UV via this widget from the Cancer Council at: www.sunsmart.com.au/uvalert/widget.aspx or the Bureau of Meteorology website.
