SunSmart UV Alert*
Your daily guide to Sun Protection

*The SunSmart UV Alert is a partnership between the The Cancer Council Australia, the Bureau of Meteorology and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency.



Contents

 

What is the SunSmart UV Alert?


Example of print version SunSmart UV Alert

The SunSmart UV Alert is a tool you can use to protect yourself from UV radiation. It is based on the Global Solar UV Index, a rating system adopted from the World Health Organisation. The higher the Index value, the greater the potential for damage to your skin.

The Alert is issued by the Bureau of Meteorology when the UV Index is forecast to reach 3, a level that can damage your skin and lead to skin cancer. At that level, you need to be SunSmart.

Look for the Alert every day

The SunSmart UV Alert is reported in most newspapers and some television and radio weather forecasts across Australia.

Web UV Alerts

SunSmart UV Alerts are linked from the forecast pages for each state and territory.
The following links are to capital city SunSmart UV Alerts:

Web SunSmart Alerts will soon be available for many more Australian cities and towns. These will be linked from the state and territory 'UV Index Forecasts for Towns and Cities' pages.
Example: UV Index Forecasts for Northern Territory Towns and Cities

 

Diagram showing how to read the Alert
This shows the period of this day that you need to be SunSmart 8.15 am - 4.20 pm.

UV Index range:

  • Low (0-2)
  • Moderate (3-5)
  • High (6-7)
  • Very High (8-10)
  • Extreme (11+)

UV Radiation – the invisible killer

Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world. More than 1300 Australians die from skin cancer each year, and 1 in 2 people will get skin cancer in their lifetime.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the invisible killer that you can’t see and you can’t feel. Heat or high temperatures are not an indication of UV radiation.

5 steps to be SunSmart

Check and Protect

It is important for all Australians or visitors to Australia, to look and listen for UV Index levels in local weather forecasts.

  1. Seek shade.
  2. Wear protective clothing that covers your arms and legs as well as your body.
  3. Put on a broad-brimmed hat that shades your face and neck.
  4. Wear wrap-around sunglasses.
  5. Apply broad spectrum SPF 30+ water resistant sunscreen every 2 hours. Sunscreen should not be used to extend the time you spend in the sun.

Remember, you should use a combination of sun protection measures to keep you safe from UV radiation-never rely on just one.

For more information about being sun smart, visit SunSmart: www.sunsmart.com.au

The maximum UV Index level forecast for this day is 12 - which is extreme.
Shows the time of day.

Facts about UV Radiation

  • The sun emits UVA, UVB and UVC radiation. The ozone layer blocks all UVC radiation.
  • UVA penetrates deep into the skin causing damage like wrinkles and discolouration.
  • Exposure to UVB causes sunburn. Sunburn, whether severe or mild, can cause permanent skin damage.
  • Skin cancer is a disease of the body’s skin cells caused mainly by overexposure to UV radiation.
  • Heat or high temperatures are not an indication of UV levels.
  • Factors such as latitude, ozone, cloud, reflection from surfaces, time of year and time of day determine UV levels.
  • UV levels vary in intensity and level across Australia on any given day.
  • When the UV Index reaches 3, sensible sun protection is warranted and is unlikely to put people at risk of Vitamin D deficiency.