The Environmental Protection Agency’s Sunwise Program began in the year 2000. Originally a school based program is has grown to include informal education groups, sports and non-profit organizations. The 2006 annual report records a membership of 13,700 schools in all 50 states, as well as 1,500 partner organizations.
An interesting feature in the report shows how the Sunwise program and the National Weather Service have developed a tool kit that helps children learn more about sun safety. Parent Teacher groups are encouraged to register by email to receive daily UV alerts, thus being aware of what the UV index is for a particular day.
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/pdffile/8spd_annual_report_highres_sun.pdf
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.
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
New Mexico is leading the charge on sun safety. In this blog, we highlight their 2006 report on the success of the RAYS - Raising awareness in youth about sun safety, program launched by the New Mexico Department of Health Comprehensive Cancer Program. This report is an update on their program and shows changes in self-reported sun safety knowledge increases by children in schools. View their program to see the dramatic increase on pre-post tests which tell us about the changes in students’ knowledge, attitudes and behavior towards sun safety.
http://www.cancernm.org/cancercouncil/pdf/RAYS_Program_06_Summary_Report.pdf