Mums and dads in Yorkshire are urged to stop themselves going red.

The warning comes as results of a new survey by Cancer Research UK and Nivea Sun reveal that parents caring for their children in the sun frequently forget to protect themselves.

The poll, which surveyed parents in the UK with children under the age of 18, revealed that:

  • 55 per cent admitted to becoming sunburnt in the UK after prioritising their children’s sun protection above their own.
  • Almost a third (32 per cent) always or often go out in strong sun without protecting their skin at all.
  • Only a third of parents cover up with clothes or a hat when out in strong sun compared with 70 per cent of parents who make sure their children are wearing a long sleeved top or wide brimmed hat.
  • 83 per cent said they always ensure their child is wearing at least factor 15 sunscreen compared with only 44 per cent who do the same for themselves.
  • 72 per cent ensure their children spend time in the shade, but 23 per cent rarely or never spend time in the shade themselves.

Lisa Millett, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Yorkshire, said: “While a lot of mums and dads are great at ensuring their kids are protected with clothing, shade and sunscreen, it’s clear that when it comes to their own sun safety – too many are putting themselves last.

“Even on days where the weather is overcast, you may still need to protect your skin from sunburn as UV rays can still penetrate through cloud cover. Checking the UV index on the weather forecast helps you know when you need to protect yourself – if it’s three or more, you could be at risk of sunburn.

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Simple tips on how you can take CARE in the sun are:

C – Cover up with a T-shirt, hat and sunglasses

A – Aim for the shade, particularly between the hours of 11am and 3pm in the UK

R – Rub on sunscreen. Use plenty with at least a factor SPF15 and four-star rating

E – Enjoy!