"It is good that a significant proportion of people were protecting their skin, but concerning in a country like this where skin cancer rates are the highest in the world, and at midday when the UV was at its highest, that others thought it was okay not to have sun protection."
At peak times, whether using sun protection or not, anyone outdoors would be getting some sun damage, he added. Being out with no sun protection was "asking for trouble".
"Everybody has a responsibility to look after themselves and take a role in their own risk management."
Keep a bottle of sunscreen in the car for unexpected outings in the sun, he advised. "We deal with people with skin cancer every day and a significant proportion of our work is educating people about risk management."
The advice was two-pronged: protect yourself against sun damage and be vigilant about any changes in your skin.
Covering up and avoiding peaks times of UV intensity were the best forms of protection, he said.
People should also monitor their skin closely. "The signs are often subtle," he said.