PTA’s and PTO’s are encouraged to learn more about School policies that promote sun safety and prevent skin cancer through a document produced by the National Association of State Boards of Education. This policy document titled “Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn” - Policies to promote sun safety and prevent skin cancer has informative strategies that schools may adopt to help their campuses be more sun safe.
An alarming fact that I picked up from the article, was the point where The US Federal Government has classified solar radiation as a known human carcinogen. Over exposure to uv rays is amongst the group of agents that cause cancer, included with a list that includes asbestos, arsenic, radon and tobacco smoke. Skin cancer, although preventable, has become the most common type of cancer in the United States, with children being the most vulnerable group, as sun exposure is linked to childhood especially before the age of 10.
To learn more on how your school may become sun safe please access the link here to download the complete document. http://www.nasbe.org/healthyschools/download_pdf/Fit%20Healthy%20Sun%20Safetyw.pdf
Picture showing a covered outdoor basketball court with shade structures. Children may play extended hours and enjoy protection from harsh uv rays.
Congratulations Dean Krueger Elementary, on your new Shade Structure!!
Children enjoy the shade of their new shade structure, no matter what time of the day recess is, playground equipment is accessible and cool without danger of burn to their skin. Now students can have their workout and fresh air, returning to their classrooms refreshed and revived ready to learn.
Parents and supervisors are warned to take care of hot playground equipment, and caution is called to mind to test the metal before allowing children to play on the playground. This summer several children experienced severe burns from overheated playground equipment.
See the safety alert by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission attached here. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/5036.pdf
I recently came across “The Sun Safety Activity Guide’, booklet produced by the National Safety Council. This publication is a health and science educational guide designed specifically for elementary school students and their families. The guide is a strategic tool for schools to help educate students in a fun and interactive way.
The guide is built upon traditional public health practices, and supports existing elementary school curricula.
With an estimated one in five Americans developing skin cancer, the onus is on us as adults to help this generation of children learn sun safety as a lifestyle for tomorrow. To see the Sun Safety Activity Guide click here http://www.nsc.org/public/ehc/sunsafe/sun_1-53.pdf.
