Enjoy the sun without regret: The BfS provides information about the Day of Sun Protection

It is early summer – we await the most active and sunny time of year. No wonder the Day of Sun Protection is on 21 June, the day of the summer solstice. In particular people engaged in sport spend as much time in the open as they can during the summer months – though this may easily pose a risk to their skin. The sun does not only increase the wellness. It also has its dark sides: There is proof that too much UV radiation and sunburns increase the risk of developing skin cancer.

With appropriate sun protection the time spent outdoors can be enjoyed without regret

"Each sunburn – especially during childhood – increases the risk of developing cancer later on – the skin does not forget anything. That doesn’t have to be that way though, with the proper sun protection the time spent outdoors can be enjoyed by everyone without regret," Dr. Thomas Jung, head of the division Radiation Effects and Radiation Risks of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS), emphasises. "However, there is still a long way to go until responsible sun protection will also be lived."

Together with physicians and scientists the BfS is committed to a sustainable UV protection. For this purpose, the BfS initiated the UV alliance – a co-operation of national actors in the field of skin cancer prevention, in order to promote more responsibility in terms of exposure to solar radiation. All allies are committed to more UV protection and to the prevention of skin cancer, and together they give simple tips.

"In particular recreational sports are at risk, who spend their days in offices and do their sporting activities at summer weekends”, Jung warns. “The same applies to up-and-coming sporting talents: Sunburns during childhood and adolescence significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer later on."

Important instrument for choosing the right sun protection: the UV index forecast

An important instrument for choosing the right sun protection is the UV index forecast. "It indicates how strong the UV radiation will become during the day. In a simple way, the UV index shows the risk level of getting a sunburn and the best way to get sun protection," Jung explains.

Each Friday, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection publishes the forecast for the weekends on the internet – weekends being the prime time for leisure activities. To reach those who do not wish to look up the forecast on the BfS homepage every Friday, the BfS additionally launches a new service for editorial offices on the Day of Sun Protection. Every Friday, they can receive the UV forecast by e-mail, to include it into their weather forecast or the leisure-time news for the weekend.

Furthermore, you will receive the most important tips about sun protection:

• Comfortable, baggy clothes protect better than sunscreen. Together with a hat for head and face this is the best protection.
• Sun glasses are not only cool. If your glasses are labelled “100 per cent UV protection” or “UV 400” and the glasses fit closely against your head, they also protect from UV radiation.
• Apply high-factor sun cream generously and regularly to all uncovered bare skin.
• Around noon, the best place to be is in the shade or inside the house.

In order for everyone to find their place in the shade, associations, public and private organisations are needed, as well. There should be sufficient places in the shade on sports fields, in town parks, in swimming pools, schools and kindergartens. This can often be achieved using simple and visually appealing means – a solar panel bearing the association’s logo can be a genuine eye-catcher.

The UV alliance

The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) has initiated an interdisciplinary UV alliance of experts from science and medicine. In the alliance, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection collaborates with the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) and radiation protection officials, cancer researchers and physicians from various organisations. For several years the allies have been committed actively to UV protection and the prevention of skin cancer. Together they strive for more responsibility in terms of exposure to the sun. The joint objective is to reduce in the long term the number of new cases of skin cancer and other health damages due to UV radiation.

Co-ordination of the UV alliance:

• Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS)

Further UV allies in alphabetical order:

• Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Prävention e.V. (ADP), Consortium for Dermatological Prevention (website in German only)
• Berufsverband der Deutschen Dermatologen e.V. (BVDD), Professional Organisation of German Dermatologists (website in German only)
• Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA)
• Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG), German Dermatological Society (website in German only)
• German Society of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (DGKJ)
• Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft e.V. (DKG), German Cancer Society (website in German only)
• German Cancer Aid (DKH)
• Deutscher Hausärzteverband e.V., German Union of General Practitioners (website in German only)
• German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
• European Skin Cancer Foundation (ESCF)
• European Society of Skin Cancer Prevention (EUROSKIN)
• Association of Population-based Cancer Registries in Germany (GEKID)
• Federation of German Occupation and Work Physicians (VDBW)

More information

BfS initiatives around the Day of Sun Protection

• UV mobile information vehicle at the "go sports triathlon" in the Wingst on 19 and 20 June 2012
• UV mobile information vehicle at the ffn Children’s Day by the Salzgittersee on 24 June 2012
• Publication of the UMID brochure "UV radiation" on 21 June 2012 (UMID: Environment and Human Health - Information Service; Editor: BfS, BfR, RKI and UBA)

UV forecast service for newspaper, radio and TV editorial offices

• Contact by e-mail: presse@bfs.de; Ref.: "Mail service UV forecast"
• Contact by phone: + 49 (0) 30 / 18 333 – 11 30