Slip. Slop. Slap. What do these words mean to you, if anything? These strange, short, ‘s’ words are commonly used around this time of year, as part of Australia’s sun safe campaign, which began in the early 80s.
They refer to slipping on sun protective clothing that covers as much of your body as possible (not always attractive on those extra hot days!); slopping on SPF 30 + broad-spectrum sunscreen; slapping on a broad-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck and ears.
Two more ‘s’ reminders have been added to the list: seek shade and slide on sunglasses.
While most of us are used to applying liberal amounts of sunscreen before we hit the beach, few of us are aware that the earth itself has a sunscreen, wrapped around it to protect it from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. This giant sunscreen is known as the ozone layer, and Australia is a place where this screen is compromised. More UV rays hit the country due to our proximity to the South Pole’s ‘ozone hole’ and as such, Australia is the skin cancer capital of the world.
Whether you’re from a different country and have recently settled in Australia, or whether you have colleagues, friends or family who are new to Australia and our intense summers, be sure to remind them of these short, strange ‘s’ words. They could save them a lot of pain from sunburn and will ensure they can get the most out of the rest of this summer.
Download your free 'Aussie Slang Guide' HERE and find out more about English from ESL Tutoring.
