Survey: One third of Britons ignore sun protection
Cancer Research UK calls itself “the world’s leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research.” The organization funds scientific research into a variety of cancers, including skin cancer, provides patient support through a significant number of resources and attempts to shape public policy through a variety of outreach initiatives.
We have closely followed the organization’s work in skin cancer, especially its usage of public polling to illustrate dangerous behaviors.
Today comes news of a new survey from Cancer Research UK that finds half of Britons got sunburned this summer and would be willing to do it again to achieve a tan.
Although there is no comparable data here, we suspect the findings would be similar in the United States.
The survey also found that one-third of respondents didn’t use any sun protection at all this summer.
Here are specific findings:
- 40% of respondents say their faces were burned this summer.
- The next most common areas of sunburn were the arms (39%), followed by the shoulders (37%) and neck (36%).
- Four in every 10 people said they had not realized the sun would be strong enough to burn.
Over the last 25 years, rates of malignant melanoma in Britain have risen faster than any other common cancer and now totals more than 10,300 new cases a year.
Education is the key to changing behaviors. Cancer Research UK understands this and is playing a leading role in that country by documenting dangerous behaviors and illustrating the consequences.
Be safe. Be SunAWARE. Educate others.
