Please remember to be sun safe as weather heats up

SPRING into sun-safe habits this September.

I am writing to remind Queenslanders to remain sun safe as we head into the warmer months.

As you start to try new things and develop new habits to get healthier, remember to be sun safe.

As the weather warms up and the sun stays out for longer it is more important than ever to stay sun safe.

Queensland has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Each year nearly 3900 Queenslanders are diagnosed with melanoma.

Almost all skin cancers, including melanoma, are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, meaning skin cancer is almost entirely preventable.

A common misconception is that sun protection is only necessary when the temperature is high. But we need to think UV, not heat.

Multiple forms of sun protection are required when the UV level reaches three and above. In Queensland, this is all year round.

The free Sunsmart app tells you when sun protection is recommended for your location.

We need to adopt all five sunprotective behaviours – Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide – to reduce our risk of skin cancer.

Don’t wait until summer to protect your skin.

When checking the weather pay attention to what the UV level is expected to be for the day.

For more on reducing your cancer risk, visit cancerqld.org.au/ cancer-prevention.

For more information about skin cancer, visit cancerqld.org.au/ cancer-information.

CHRIS MCMILLAN CEO, Cancer Council Queensland.