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Home > Press > Year 2010 > Sun – that’s safe!
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Press Release 08 as of 2010/06/10
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Sun – that’s safe!
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Federal Office for Radiation Protection launches UV protection information campaign
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Tanking up on sun in the summer: the mere thought is enough to lift your spirits. Nevertheless a careless approach to the sun can have serious consequences for your health – despite the fact that prevention is simple. With its information campaign “Sun – that’s safe!”, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) aims to demonstrate the best prevention methods and why effective sun protection is crucial. At the launch today BfS President Wolfram König presented the BfS UV infomobile in Lübeck, which will be touring numerous cities in northern and southern Germany in the run-up to the summer holidays.
“Sunshine is good for you – if you go about things sensibly”, BfS President Wolfram König was at pains to emphasise. “We particularly need to watch out for our children. Their skin’s protection mechanisms have yet to develop fully. Because every sunburn during childhood dramatically increases the risk of skin cancer, this year’s campaign is focusing on children and young people.”
With sunglasses testing and a UV measuring station, easy to understand animations and a children’s area, the infomobile offers a practical presentation of where the hidden dangers lie. BfS experts provide tips on the correct UV protection and explain what effect the sun’s UV rays have on the body. Children are invited to bring pictures they have made to the infomobile. The best pictures will be published on the Internet.
In addition to the UV infomobile there’s also a range of new teaching materials for parents, kindergartens, primary and middle schools that show that sun protection can be cool: with stylish sunglasses and cheeky pirate scarves it’s easy to convince the little ones of the need for UV protection. For older children the focus is on the compatibility of UV protection with fun leisure activities and ideals of beauty.
Those who are unable to visit the infomobile can obtain comprehensive UV information on the Internet at http://www.bfs.de/sonne-aber-sicher. The website also includes a list of tour dates. A download of the teaching materials is available on the Internet, or you can apply for them free of charge from the Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, Postfach 10 01 49, 38201 Salzgitter.
BackgroundEvery year some 140,000 people in Germany develop skin cancer. Every year 2,000 to 3,000 people die from the consequences. The dramatic increase in recent decades is due to the sun’s UV rays having a greater impact on skin. The association of tanned skin with health and beauty often leads to lengthy periods spent sunbathing and visits to tanning parlours. During holidays to warmer climes, but also during leisure time at home, people often neglect to protect skin that has become unused to the sun’s exposure.
UV rays can permanently damage skin and eyes. In addition to acute symptoms such as actual sunburn and conjunctivitis, high exposure to UV rays in the long term can lead to an increased risk of developing skin cancer, premature ageing and wrinkling of the skin and cataracts. The skin of children and young people is especially sensitive to UV rays since the skin only develops its own UV protection mechanisms with increasing age. A high level of UV exposure and sunburn during your childhood and teens dramatically increases the risk of developing skin cancer in later life.
Tour dates
10 June 2010
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Lübeck
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Schrangen
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11 June 2010
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Hamburg
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Lange Mühren |
12 June 2010
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Schwerin |
Schloßstraße |
13 June 2010
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Rostock-Warnemünde
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Am Leuchtturm
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21 June 2010
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Munich
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Neuhauser Straße (Richard-Strauss-Brunnen)
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22 June 2010
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Ulm
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Münsterplatz
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23 June 2010
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Stuttgart
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Kronprinzenstraße/Büchsenstraße
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24. June 2010
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Karlsruhe
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Stephanplatz
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The BfS team look forward to welcoming you to the infomobile on the above dates between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. In the case of larger numbers, such as school groups, we request that you call in advance: +49 (0)30/18 333-1326.
Sun protection tips:- Stay out of the midday sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- The best sun protection is suitable clothing, a hat and sunglasses. Wear T-shirts, trousers or knee-length skirts, and shoes. Hats should have a wide brim or better still a visor and neck protection. Good sunglasses are labelled UV400 or 100%UV and provide side protection to block out spill.
- Apply sun cream to exposed areas of skin. The cream should offer both UV A and UV B protection and be photostable (i.e. does not degrade in strong light). Sun cream should be applied in sufficient quantity (approx. 30 - 40 ml for the whole body) at least 30 minutes before sunbathing. Sun cream needs to be regularly reapplied throughout the day and especially after swimming. The sun protection factor (SPF) should be a minimum of 20. SPF 30 is recommended for small children and kindergarten children. Infants less than a year old should not be exposed to the sun at all.
- Children and teenagers need to be particularly well-protected from too much UV exposure. The level of UV exposure that the body receives in the first few years is a determining risk factor for skin cancer.
- The skin should not be exposed to more than 50 intensive sunbathing sessions per year. Avoid sunburn. Sunburn as a child and teenager increases the risk of subsequently developing skin cancer.
- Those on medication should consult their doctor before sunbathing. Some medicines increase the skin’s light sensitivity or trigger allergies.
- Kosmetika,
If possible make-up, deodorants and perfumes should not be used when sunbathing. There is a risk of permanent pigmentation.
Further information:
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