Sun Safety

In Queensland, year-round sun protection is important for all children and young people.

Research shows that high ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure from the sun in childhood and adolescence significantly increases the risk of developing skin cancer.

Parents, families and the community also play an important role to model and reinforce the 5 ways to be sun safe with children and young people.

SLIP

Slip into protective clothing 

Choose clothing that covers as much of your skin as possible, such as collared shirts with long sleeves or dresses that hit below the knee.  Close weave materials such as cotton, polyester/cotton and linen are best, especially in darker colours, as they will absorb more UV radiation than lighter colours. Materials such as Lycra remain sun protective even when wet, so it’s a great option for when you go swimming. 

SLOP

Slop on SPF50 or SPF50+ sunscreen, that is also broad-spectrum and water resistant.

Apply a generous amount of sunscreen to clean, dry skin at least 20 minutes before you go outside. Adults will typically need a teaspoon of sunscreen for their head and neck, each limb and the front and back of the body – that’s about seven teaspoons (35mL) for a full body application. Most people apply too little sunscreen and forget to reapply. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours when you’re spending time outdoors, and always after swimming, towel drying or sweating. Remember, sunscreen is not a suit of armour and should always be used in combination with other sun safety measures. 

SLAP

Slap on a hat

Choose, a broad-brimmed, legionnaire or bucket style hat which shades your face, nose, neck and ears. Caps and visors do not provide adequate protection and, just like your clothes, your hat should be made from closely woven material. 

SEEK

Seek shade

Shade alone can reduce your UV exposure by up to 75%. Make good use of trees and built structures to seek shade, or bring along your own, such as pop-up tent or umbrellas.  Shade reduces UV radiation, but it can still reach you via reflection, so make sure you use shade in combination with other sun protection measures.

SLIDE

Slide on some sunglasses 

Slide on some sunnies but make sure they’re a close-fitting, wrap around style that meet the Australian Standard AS 1067 and provide an Eye Protection Factor (EPF) of 9 or above. Worn together with a broad-brimmed hat, you’ll reduce UV radiation exposure to the eyes by up to 98%. 

Check your skin

Most skin cancers can be successfully treated if they are found early. Without treatment some cancers can be deadly.

It's important to know your skin and to check it regularly, looking for any changes, especially in spots or moles. Visit your GP if you notice anything suspicious and ask about having a skin check.

Look for spots or moles that might be: 

For more information on checking for signs of skin cancer visit here.