The major cause of skin cancer is too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Skin can burn in as little as 15 minutes in the summer sun so it is important to protect your skin from UV radiation. Avoid using solariums or sunbeds, which emit harmful levels of UV radiation up to three to five times as strong as the summer midday sun.

Skin cancer is largely preventable. Be SunSmart. Protect yourself against sun damage and skin cancer by using a combination of these five steps:

Slip on sun protective clothing
Choose clothing that:

• Covers as much skin as possible e.g. long sleeves and high necks/collars.
• Is made from close weave materials such as cotton, polyester/cotton and linen.
• Is dark in colour to absorb UV rays. White and lighter colours reflect UV onto skin.
• If used for swimming, is made from materials such as lycra, which stays sun protective when wet.

Slop on SPF 30+ sunscreen
Make sure your sunscreen is broad spectrum and water resistant.
Sunscreen should not be used to increase the amount of time you spend in the sun and should always be used with other forms of protection. Apply sunscreen liberally to clean, dry skin at least 20 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours.

Slap on a hat
A broad brimmed, legionnaire or bucket style hat provides good protection for the face, nose, neck and ears, which are common sites for skin cancers. Caps and visors do not provide adequate protection. Choose a hat made with closely woven fabric – if you can see through it, UV radiation will get through. Hats may not protect you from reflected UV radiation, so also wear sunglasses and sunscreen to increase your level of protection.

Seek shade
Make use of trees or built shade structures, or bring your own! Staying in the shade is an effective way to reduce sun exposure. Whatever you use for shade, make sure it casts a dark shadow and use other protection (such as clothing, hats, sunglasses and sunscreen) to avoid reflected UV radiation from nearby surfaces.

Slide on some sunglasses
Sunglasses and a broad brimmed hat worn together can reduce UV radiation exposure to the eyes by up to 98 per cent. Choose close-fitting wrap-around sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard AS 1067. Sunglasses are as important for children as they are for adults.

The Saving Our Skin DVD is designed to assist with the promotion of the prevention and early detection of skin cancer. The DVD is appropiate to a wide audience. There are three modules on the DVD, each is eight minutes in length and aimed at:
• Outdoor workers
• The general community
• Schools and childcare settings

Each eight minute module is designed to give practical advice to individuals and organisations to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer through policy development and early detection. It is recommended for adult education purposes only.

To order a copy simply email helpline@cancerqld.org.au or call the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.

Thousands of Queenslanders are involved in outdoor sports as participants, organisers, officials, coaches and spectators. This involvement has many health benefits, but it also carries the risk of increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and therefore the risk of skin cancer.

As many sports are often undertaken during peak UVR periods (between 10am and 3pm), sporting organisations have the potential to minimise UVR exposure and provide a SunSmart environment which positively influences long-term behaviour.

Cancer Council Queensland has developed SunSmart Policy Guidelines for sporting organisations. These guidelines help organisations develop their own SunSmart policy and provide ideas for the implementation of the policy. Developing a formal, written SunSmart policy demonstrates your organisation’s commitment to the health and safety of your members.

The SunSmart Grant Scheme is a partnership initiative developed by Cancer Council Queensland and Queensland Health, to support organisations who need funding assistance to increase sun protection measures for children in their care.

The Scheme provides financial grants to early childhood centres, primary schools and community organisations whose primary focus group is children aged 0-12 years, to help them improve their sun protection measures and promote SunSmart behaviour. The Scheme aims to support skin cancer prevention and encourages all organisations to adopt a SunSmart policy.

If you would like to apply for funding through the SunSmart Grant Scheme, please download the Application Form and Application Guidelines. If you require any support and assistance during the application process, please contact the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20 between 8am - 6pm. Please note that the closing date for applications has been extended to 5pm, Tuesday 31 August 2010.

Remember to take extra care between 10am and 3pm when UV radiation is most intense.

Look out for the SunSmart UV Alert which tells you the time period in which you need to be SunSmart – it appears on the weather page of most daily newspapers and on the Bureau of  Meteorology website or download our Personal Protection brochure for more information about the UV Alert.

Check your skin regularly and see a doctor if you notice any unusual skin changes.

If you have a lesion that doesn’t heal, or a mole that has suddenly appeared, changed in size, thickness, shape, colour or has started to bleed, ask your doctor for a skin examination. Treatment is more likely to be successful if skin cancer is discovered early.

For information about vitamin D and daily sun exposure requirements, download our brochure.

Click here for information on the different types of skin cancer.

Click here for information on how to use personal protection to save your skin from sun damage

Because children are at school during peak ultraviolet radiation (UVR) times, they play a major role in minimising children’s exposure to UVR and providing a SunSmart environment which will positively influence long-term behaviours.

Since January 1999, Cancer Council Queensland has invited each primary school in Queensland to become a ”SunSmart School" as part of the National SunSmart Schools Program. Schools are asked to complete a questionnaire and send it, along with a copy of their sun protection policy, to Cancer Council Queensland to be assessed.

Early Childhood Centres and Family Day Care Centres can also become registered SunSmart facilities. Click here for more information on how to become be recognised as SunSmart.

Work undertaken during peak UVR periods (between 10am and 3pm) should be avoided, however, when this is not possible, organisations have the potential to minimise UVR exposure and provide a SunSmart environment which positively influences long-term SunSmart behaviour.

Cancer Council Queensland has developed SunSmart Policy Guidelines for workplaces. These guidelines help workplaces develop their own SunSmart policy and provide ideas for the implementation of the policy. Developing a formal, written SunSmart policy demonstrates your workplace’s commitment to the health and safety of all staff.

Download our Workplaces: SunSmart Policy Guidelines.

Cancer Council Queensland’s Community Speakers Program can provide presentations on the prevention and early detection of a range of cancers including skin cancer and sun protection. Find out more here.

Contact the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20 (toll free) for a copy of the Saving Our Skin DVD, which is an adult resource designed to assist with the promotion of the prevention and early detection of skin cancer, and is ideal to use in any workplace.

Outdoor workers

Queensland Health, Cancer Council Queensland and the Department of Industrial Relations have developed a resource kit designed to educate outdoor workers about the importance of sun safety in Queensland. The kit contains a poster, brochures with information on how to be safe in the sun, a Cancer Council Queensland community speakers brochure and fact sheets on sunscreen and clothing. If you would like one of these kits or more information, please contact your local Workplace Health and Safety Queensland office, or www.health.qld.gov.au/sunsafety.

Working safely in the sun

Working Safely in the Sun is an online training course for outdoor workers (developed in partnership with online training specialist iCourses). The course is ideal for employee safety training, staff induction, refresher training programs and professional development for Health and Safety representatives. The course offers an effective, cost efficient means of delivering vital messages to employees and can be completed without interruption to normal work.

Topics covered include:

UV radiation - why is it harmful and when is it strong enough to damage the skin?
Skin cancer - who is at risk?
Five simple steps to protect your skin when working outdoors
Looking out for skin cancer and how to check your skin

Visit www.sunsmartelearning.com.au to register

The Queensland Skin Cancer Prevention Strategic Plan 2008-2013 is now in action in Queensland, with government, non-government, industry and community organisations working together to pave the way forward for skin cancer prevention in the state.

The Plan aims to reduce the incidence of skin cancer in Queensland by creating sustainable policy and environmental changes to ensure Queenslanders can be protected from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

Download the document for more information on Cancer Council Queensland’s future plans for skin cancer prevention.