Farmers always need to keep track of the weather forecast, especially during the summer months when planning field work.
Northern Ireland weather is usually cool and changeable – but the UV index will tell you how strong the sun really is, so you can take the proper precautions to protect your skin and work safely.
The Public Health Agency (PHA) and Cancer Focus Northern Ireland have joined forces with the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) encouraging everyone to learn more about the UV index and keep sun protection essentials to hand when working outdoors.
A recent survey showed that 8 out of 10 local people were aware of the UV index but were unclear about what it meant or how it could help them protect their skin from overexposure to harmful UV rays from the sun.
Dr Miriam McCarthy, Consultant in Public Health Medicine at the PHA, said: “The UV index is a measure of the level of ultra violet radiation reaching us from the sun each day. During the summer we can use it to indicate how quickly our skin and eyes can be damaged by the sun when we are spending time outdoors.
“The UV index was developed by the World Health Organisation and has a scale of 0 to 11+, and is a much more accurate way of determining your risk of burning than relying on just the air temperature or other weather conditions.”
Barclay Bell, UFU President, said: “Farmers often spend a lot of time working outdoors and the consequences of overexposure to the sun can be serious. Some UV rays can penetrate glass so you are still exposed during those long hours in the tractor. Everyone who works outside needs to think about sun protection to reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer.”
Marbeth Ferguson, Skin Cancer Prevention Co-ordinator at Cancer Focus NI, said: “When the UV index is three or greater, we need to take steps to protect our skin from over-exposure to UV rays from the sun.
“From April to September in Northern Ireland, the UV index reaches this level on most days, even on breezy or cloudy days, especially around the middle of the day from 11am to 3pm when the sun's rays are strongest.
“The UV index here can be as high as seven or eight, particularly around the summer solstice in June.
“To help inform people about local UV index levels over the summer months, a range of organisations including the UFU are sharing UV meter readings and relevant sun safety advice with their members.
“We hope this will encourage everyone to enjoy the sun safely both at home and abroad this summer.”
Top tips for taking care of your skin and eyes in the sun are:
- Seek shade when the sun is at its strongest – generally 11am to 3pm at home but times vary in other countries
- Cover up in the sun with a long sleeved t-shirt and hat
- Wear sunglasses with wraparound lenses or wide arms. Ensure they have a CE mark showing that they are made to an agreed European standard and also check for the British Standard BS EN ISO 12312-1 to ensure that they give adequate protection from UV rays. Sunglasses should fit your face well and relatively snugly so that light doesn't enter your eye from around the lens
- Use sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 for UVB protection and 4-star for UVA protection. Apply liberally 30 minutes before going out in the sun and re-apply at least every two hours
To find out more about the UV index and how it helps you know when to protect your skin visit www.careinthesun.org/skin-cancer/solar-uv-index/ You can access UV index readings wherever you are via the British Association of Dermatologist’s World UV App http://www.bad.org.uk/for-the-public/sun-awareness-campaign/world-uv-app
If you are concerned about skin cancer you can call the Cancer Focus NI free information and support Nurseline on 0800 783 3339 or email one of the charity’s nurses on nurseline@cancerfocusni.org
