Keep people safe in the sun

Our weather is becoming more extreme, with the Met Office warning that higher temperatures are likely to become more common.

This raises an important question for clubs and community organisations: how can they protect participants and volunteers during outdoor activity in the summer months?

Many community clubs and organisations work hard to create safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces, where enjoyment and wellbeing sit at the heart of what they do. With a duty of care for their people, organisations have clear safeguarding and health and safety policies and practices in place.

The changing weather and more extreme summers mean that these care practices should extend to thinking about how to protect people against sun and heat exposure. 

Putting measures in place to protect participants, volunteers and staff from sunburn can be simple. In this blog we explore the work of the Melanoma Fund and the free support, advice and guidance they provide to help your organisation.

• Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK.
• On average, there are around 17,600 new melanoma cases each year in the UK.
• Melanoma cases are projected to reach around 26,500 each year between 2038 and 2040.
• Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common cancers in the UK, with the majority linked to cumulative exposure to UV radiation.

(Statistics from Cancer Research UK)

Research from the Melanoma Fund shows that 72% of coaches, leaders and teachers have never received formal training on sun or heat protection, despite spending significant time delivering outdoor activity, with two thirds reporting they've experienced sun or heat-related incidents during the sessions they lead.