Irish Cancer Society urges sun safety

The Irish Cancer Society has urged everyone to be sun smart as temperatures look likely to remain high over the coming days. "You don't have to get sunburned to get skin cancer, but it helps," the society warned. To outsmart the sun and get nothing but positives from it follow these steps: Cover Up: Wear a shirt with a collar, long shorts or a hat that shades face, neck and ears. Seek Shade: Move into the shade to avoid the sun's strongest UV rays between 11am and 3pm. Wear Wraparound Sunglasses: Make sure your glasses have UV protection too. Slop on Sunscreen: Use at least SPF 15 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours. More regular re-application is advised if you are swimming or perspiring. Babies under the age of six months should be kept out of the sun if possible. UV levels in the area can be checked by visiting www.cancer.ie/sunsmart. It is also important to know your skin and what is normal for you and to look out for any changes as early detenction is key to sucessfully treating skin cancer. More information is available from the National Cancer Helpline on freefone 1800 200 700.