Good morning, listeners. Welcome to our radio program “Information for New Immigrants”. Today we have a skin doctor who will talk to us about how to protect ourselves from the harms of the sun. I would like to welcome Dr Reda Ali to our studios. Dr Ali, thanks for coming today.
Not at all. I believe that everyone should know about the harms of the sun in Australia, especially new immigrants.
Let me begin by asking why we have to be careful not to spend a lot of time in the sun.
First of all, the sun is important. It makes us feel worm. It gives us light so we can see. But it can be harmful. There are many people in Australia who suffer from skin cancer. Most of those people have spent a lot of time in the sun. They did not have enough protection.
Are there times when it is not good to be outside the house in the sun?
Yes, the period between ten o’clock in the morning and two o’clock in the afternoon. We need to be careful if we go outside our houses during that time.
I see. What can people do if they have to leave their homes during that time?
There are simple things they can do. For example, if you are going to spend some time in the sun, choose what to wear carefully. Wear a shirt that has long sleeves. Put a hat on to prevent the sun from burning your face. If you go to the beach, use sunscreen.
What is sunscreen?
It is a cream. People use it to protect their skin from the sun. It is really important to use it. It is not expensive by the way. Only a few dollars. You can use one bottle for the whole family. There are different brands and they do the same job. So you don’t need to spend much money on buying sunscreen.
Are there other things that people need to be careful about?
Yes, it is good to seek shade most of the time you are outside your house. Don’t stay in the sun. You can stay under a tree. When you buy a car, you can choose one that has dark windows so you protect yourself and your family from direct sunlight when you travel.
Is it good to wear sunglasses?
Yes, it is a good idea to wear sunglasses, of course. You don’t need to buy very expensive sunglasses. Also a pair of sunglasses can make people look cool. You will look cool and you will protect yourself from the sun.
Are there any months during the year when we need to be extra careful about the harms of the sun?
Yes, the months of December, January and February. We need to be extra careful when we go out.
What about using an umbrella? Do you think it is a good idea to use an umbrella?
Yes, using an umbrella will help protect you from the sun. The only problem is that you lose it easily. Some umbrellas are not of good quality. You buy them and can't use them for long. They get broken. In some countries like Taiwan, you see many people using them to protect themselves from the sun. You don't see many people in Australia carrying umbrellas.
Well, that is interesting to know. Now let me ask you do children need to be careful too?
Yes, everyone needs to be careful about the harms of the sun. We need to know that we need the sun. It makes our bones and our teeth strong. It gives us vitamin D. What we don’t need is too much sun. This means that children who go to school need to be careful about spending too much time playing in the sun, especially at noon.
Do they need to wear hats?
Yes, in term four at school, children in primary schools must wear hats. There are teachers who supervise these kids during play time and they know that.
What about workers who work outside? What can they do?
If it is too hot, they should stop working. The sun can be very dangerous when it is very hot. They need to wear clothes that protect them from the sun. They should use sunscreen creams and drink enough water.
What do we need to do when the temperature is high?
We need to drink enough water. We also need to make sure that we have enough cold drinks in the fridge. If you know anyone old living alone, make sure they are safe. Give them a phone call to see if they are OK. Have a cool bath or a shower. This will make you feel fresh. Close the windows and draw your curtains to keep the cool air inside.
Well, doctor Ali. This information is really important. I would like to thank you for coming today and for making the information simple for our listeners to understand.
Not at all. It’s been a pleasure coming here and talking to your listeners. I am an immigrant myself and I know that most immigrants don’t know many of the things that they really should.
We are running out of time now. Dear listeners, this brings us to the end of our program. We will meet at the same time next week in your program “Information for New Immigrants”. Till then, I wish you all the best and goodbye.
