Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) Protection - Community Strategies
Too much sun exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer. In 2015, over-exposure to UVR from the sun accounted for about 65 percent of new melanoma (skin cancer) cases diagnosed in Alberta.1
The good news is that communities can help reduce UV exposure.
The strategies listed below offer some ideas to guide activities to reduce UV exposure in your community. To make the greatest impact, it is best to implement more than one strategy. Activities that work to change the social, physical, and economic aspects of a community, as well as local policies will have the best results. It is important to start where you are at. This may mean starting with one area of change and then building on it in other areas over time.
Ways to take action
All of the strategies below are based on current research, have been tested and shown to work. See the methods section for more information on how these strategies were developed.
Access to Sunscreen Appropriate use of sunscreen can protect against overexposure from the sun while outdoors. Awareness and Education Awareness and education campaigns can promote appropriate UVR protection knowledge and practices by individuals and communities. Shade Structures and Areas Using shade structures and areas can protect against overexposure from the sun while outdoors.
Community action focus areas
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O'Sullivan DE, Brenner DR, Villeneuve PJ, Walter SD, Demers PA, Friedenreich CM, King WD. Estimates of the current and future burden of melanoma attributable to ultraviolet radiation in Canada. Preventive Medicine. 2019;122:81-90
