Protecting My Skin- SunSmart curriculum resources now available! Cancer Council WA have developed a collection of classroom friendly, educational resources for Western Australian primary schools, outside school hours care (OSHC) and vacation care services. Protecting My Skin contains full lessons,…
Do we need to be SunSmart in winter?
Yes! Despite the plunge in temperature, UV radiation still reaches damaging levels in Winter throughout Western Australia. But, protecting our skin is often not top of mind.
So, what should we do to protect ourselves and the children in our care from the sun in winter? Here are some facts about sun protection in winter.
Cloudy day sun safety
Remember heat and UV (ultraviolet) radiation are not the same! It is important to regularly check the UV Index, especially in winter to prevent the surprise of getting burnt even on cooler, cloudy days. UV radiation can pass through light cloud cover, and on lightly overcast days the intensity of UV radiation can be similar to that of a cloud free day. Heavy cloud can reduce the intensity of UV radiation. Scattered cloud has a variable effect on levels of UV radiation, which rise and fall as clouds pass in front of the sun.
Windburn – as mythical as unicorns
If it’s windy and you get a red face, it’s likely to be sunburn. There’s no such thing as ‘windburn’, as shown in this video.
Knowing when to protect yourself (and others)
If you are heading outside for more than a few minutes and the UV is 3 or higher, sun protection is required. For UV Index information where you live, head to www.myuv.com.au or download the free SunSmart Global UV app.
Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide
Cancer Council recommends that a combination of measures is used to prevent sun damage when the UV is 3 or above– SLIP on sun protective clothing, SLOP on sunscreen, SLAP on a sun protective hat, SEEK shade, SLIDE on sun protective sunglasses. All five measures are needed, and it is important to not rely on sunscreen alone. Although sunscreen can provide great protection from UV, no sunscreen gives 100% protection. We also often do not apply enough or forget to reapply; therefore, a combination of all sun protective measures is recommended when outside and the UV is 3 or above.
How much sunscreen is enough?
Our recommendation is to apply sunscreen 20 minutes before heading outside and reapply at least every two hours. Sunscreen should be applied more frequently if being active, swimming, or towel-drying. Read (and follow) the instructions on the packaging.
