As we head towards summer, we're encouraging the Levelling the Playing Field network to build sun protection habits into their daily routine by supporting Sunguarding Sport, a new campaign by the Melanoma Fund.
Rationale
Sports people receive substantially higher UV exposure, and routinely exceed the recommended exposure limits, increasing their risk of sun damage and skin cancer. Factors such as sweating, water contact, minimal clothing, and lack of shade, make it even more relevant, however, only 50% currently sun protect when exercising outdoors.
Since the early 1990s, rates of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) have risen in the UK by 170%, with over 156,000 cases reported a year**. This equates to a staggering 430 people a day receiving a diagnosis that could have been mainly prevented with adequate sun protection.
The solution
Sunguarding Sport is a free resource that provides a systematic approach to educate and raise awareness of sun protection to all in sport and outdoor recreation. It provides guidelines, sport-specific advice (created in partnership with each governing body) and a toolkit of downloadable materials, designed to be shared to participants, spectators, and officials, by organisations, groups and clubs.
Written by experts
The guidelines have been approved by Professor Brian Diffey and Dr Elizabeth Blakeway Manning, and features topics such as which sunscreen to use, type of clothing, tips on application and shade, how to avoid or deal with heatstroke, sunburn, heat exhaustion, dehydration and much more.
Top tips
1. UV radiation cannot be seen or felt, so check the UV Index daily, and use sun protection when it reads 3 or over.
2. A short training session can last for hours, so get into the habit of being sun prepared before you start any outdoor activity.
3. Sunscreen can wear, wash, rub or sweat off, so re-apply every two hours or more often when around water.
4. To avoid a greasy grip, use a sunscreen applicator or clean palms with a small towel and alcohol gel.
5. When removing clothing on a warm day, remember to apply sunscreen to all newly exposed areas of skin.
Michelle Baker, CEO of the Melanoma Fund, said: “With the spotlight on health and welfare, Sunguarding Sport has certainly hit the right note, evidenced by the incredible pre-launch support we have received. Our aim is to get all sports and outdoor recreational organisations involved, to help improve sun protection habits and impact skin cancer, because if not, why not?”
#IFNOTWHYNOT?
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For further details visit www.melanoma-fund.co.uk