My Health
Sun Safety
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. Experts say one severe case of sunburn in a child's first 15 years can double their risk of skin cancer.
There are two types of sunray that can do damage - UVA and UVB. It's these rays that can cause other damage to our skin in the form of sunburn or ageing.
Stay safe in the sun using the SMART tips:
- Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day)
- Make sure you never burn
- Always cover up
- Remember to take extra care with children
- Take and use Sun Factor (SF) 15+ sunscreen
Children tend to spend more time outside than adults do and their skin is particularly sensitive and burns easily. Because of this they need to be protected whether at home or abroad.
More tips on how to keep children safe in the sun:
- Keep babies under six months old out of the sun at all times. UV is strongest under a cloudless sky, even if the temperature is low or there's a cooling wind.
- Keep your child in the shade, but bear in mind that it is still possible to get sunburn under light cloud.
- Always apply a high factor sun cream (at least SF 15+) and reapply regularly and after swimming. All children, however dark their skin tone, should use sun protection.
- Keep your child well covered with a t-shirt or loose cotton clothing and sun hat.
- Ensure sun hats and peaked caps cover the back of the neck.
- Sunglasses offer valuable eye protection and protect against overexposure to UV reflected off water. Make sure that the sunglasses offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
- To avoid dehydration make sure that children get regular drink breaks, preferably water, when playing in the sun.
- All-in-one sun suits may be a good idea as they offer good protection for shoulders and legs.
Sun Safety
» SunSmart - Cancer Research UK
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Did you know
- You are entitled to review your medications with your local pharmacist free of charge.
- A healthy balanced diet, taking more exercise and losing weight if necessary may delay the onset of diabetes.
- Young people aged 13-25 years can access free, confidential sexual health advice and condoms from the Cardiff Condom-Card (C-Card) Scheme.
- A reduction in dietary salt intake from 9g to 6g could reduce blood pressure.
- In England and Wales, alcohol misuse leads to some 33,000 hospital admissions each year for alcohol-related liver disease.
- Improving your diet could prevent an estimated third of cancers.
- Over 40% of 5 year olds in Cardiff have one or more decayed teeth.
- Currently, over half of the population of Cardiff are reported to be overweight or obese.
- If you drive at twice the legal alcohol limit you are at least 30 times more likely to cause a road crash, than a driver who hasn't been drinking.
- A healthy balance diet, physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight have been shown to be effective in the prevention and treatment of hypertension.
- Obesity is associated with a reduction in life expectancy of approximately 9 years.
- Regular exercise can really help if you're feeling depressed, stressed or anxious.
- A diet rich in fruit and vegetables decreases the risk of coronary heart disease.
- Of the people alive today, 650 million will eventually be killed by tobacco.
- An extra portion of fruit and vegetables per day could decrease the risk of coronary heart disease by 4% and stroke by 6%.
- If you are regularly physically active, you are 50% less likely of becoming obese.
- Nearly £2000 a year could be saved by quitting smoking 20 cigarettes per day.
- If you are regularly physically active, you are approximately 50% less likely to develop coronary health disease than those who do not exercise.
- By taking regular physical activity you are at reduced risk of developing osteoporosis.
- Smoking during pregnancy has been identified as a cause of cot death.
- In Wales, the total cost of physical inactivity to the health service and the economy as a whole is estimated at around £650 million per year.
- 6,000 deaths from coronary heart disease in men each year are directly due to alcohol.
- Only 26% of adults in Cardiff undertake the recommended 5 x 30 minutes exercise per week.
