“Parents have a responsibility to protect their children from the dangers of the sun and to teach them about sun safety. It is very concerning that so many children are being treated in hospital each summer,” said Cancer Council SA Chief Executive, Associate Professor Brenda Wilson.

Statistics show that the majority of children being admitted to hospital for sunburn each year are between 5 - 12 years old.

“With primary school aged children accounting for the majority of hospital treatments from sunburn, it is likely that we are seeing a number of children being burnt who have been entrusted with the responsibility of applying their own sunscreen.”

“Parents need to ensure that children who are deemed old enough to apply their own sunscreen are taught how to do so properly and are reminded to re-apply it,” said Associate Professor Wilson.

Results from the recent National Skin Survey have shown that on an average summer weekend, one in four teenagers is getting burnt, suggesting that South Australian teens are lacking in sun sense.

Exposure to UV radiation in the first two decades of a person’s lifetime bears a substantial impact on the likelihood of developing skin cancer.

“It is absolutely vital that parent’s protect their children’s skin and instil safe sun practices in their children, to guard against skin cancer.”

“No child should be burnt to the point of requiring hospital treatment yet it continues to happen,” said Associate Professor Wilson.

For further information on sun protection and skin cancer visit Cancer Council SA website, www.cancersa.org.au or call Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20.