SunSmart is warning Victorians in Geelong to Slip Slop Slap Seek and Slide whatever the weather this summer in a new print advertising campaign.
Sue Heward, SunSmart Manager, said: “The ‘Think UV not Heat’ campaign, funded by the Victorian State Government, aims to remind people in Geelong that even when it’s cool or cloudy; you’re still at risk of getting sunburnt.”
“Many people mistakenly believe that they only need sun protection on hot, sunny days. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, not heat, is the major cause of sunburn, premature ageing, eye damage and skin damage leading to skin cancer. UV cannot be seen or felt. It’s not like the sun’s light which we see, or the sun’s warmth which we feel. Our senses cannot detect UV so it can be damaging without us knowing.”
Sue continued: “So far this summer the weather has varied between extremely hot 40 degree days to cool and cloudy but since December the UV has remained extreme for most of the day. If you don’t protect yourself from the sun you can burn in just 11 minutes at this time of year, so remember to Think UV not Heat .”
Ms Heward’s advice to Geelong residents who want to avoid the damaging UV rays, is to check the sun protection times each day. They can be found in the weather section of the newspaper or on the free SunSmart app, and always use a combination of sun protection measures during the sun protection times.
“Another tip is to keep sunscreen near the door so you remember to take it with you when you are out and about. You can also set the sunscreen reapplication reminder on the SunSmart app when you go outside, to help you stay protected,” Ms Heward said.
In another exciting development SunSmart congratulates Eftpos who have donated $1million to Cancer Council Australia to get more shade into schools. Secondary schools interested in applying for a shade grant can visit www.cancer.org.au/shade for more information.
For further information, visit sunsmart.com.au .