New data from Cancer Council Victoria’s Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer’s Sun Observation Study has shown only four per cent of those observed in streets and at cafe in select locations across the state were wearing a sun protective hat.
The study observed more than 2200 people during the summer period of 2020, finding 32 per cent were wearing sunglasses.
SunSmart head Emma Glassenbury said people needed to remember the five steps in skin cancer prevention: slip, slop, slap, seek and slide.
“Exposure to UV can cause eye and skin damage, premature ageing, and ongoing UV exposure can ultimately lead to skin cancer,” she said.
“We need Victorians to slip on protective clothing, slop on sunscreen every two hours, slap on a hat which is either broad-brimmed or a legionnaire style, seek shade and slide on sunglasses when the UV level is three or above.”
Australia has one of the highest UV levels and rates of skin cancer cases in the world, with two in three Australians expected to be diagnosed in their lifetime.
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency chief radiation health scientist Dr Rick Tinker said the damage the sun inflicts on the eyes could be severe.
“UV radiation is completely invisible and can be a result of the direct sun or its reflection, so the use of sunglasses is a great way of reducing your eye exposure and, in turn, preventing eye damage in the future,” he said.
Details: sunsmart.com.au/resources/sunsmart-app
