Cornish First Aid

We all like to be outdoors in the summer and here in Cornwall that usually means messing about on the water, in the water or on the beach.
Unfortunately, being in the sun brings it's own problems, namely sunburn and possibly skin cancer. "Many cases of sunburn happen when people are not deliberately sunbathing".

Rates of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer have increased by 43% in the last 25 years making it the fastest rising cancer in Britain. A British Skin Survey has revealed that over a third of British men and women are unsure of what an SPF is. People are also confused about the difference between UVA and UVB rays, with three-quarters of those questioned attributing UVA rays to burning and 77% UVB rays to ageing. 

The Seven Deadly Skin Cancer Facts

1)  There were 8900 new cases of malignant melanoma reported in 2004 in the UK.

2)  In 2004 melanoma was the seventh most common cancer in the UK.

3)  In the age-group 20-39 melanoma is the second most common cancer.

4)  In males over a third of all cases of melanoma occur on the trunk, whilst the most common site    for females is the legs.

5)  Over the last 25 years rates of malignant melanoma in the UK have increased almost five times in males and have more than tripled in females.

6)  Both UVA and UVB radiation are linked to all types of skin cancer.

7)  Number of moles, family history, fair hair and fair skin increase the risk of skin cancer.