Back to school SunSmart survival tips

Thursday January 19, 2012

Excitement levels won’t be the only thing rising next week as thousands of Queensland youngsters head back to school.

Ultraviolet (UV) levels in Queensland next week are expected to be dangerously high from early morning until late afternoon, reaching extreme levels during the peak UV period of 10am – 3pm, which occurs during school hours.

Cancer Council Queensland is urging all Queensland parents to ensure their children are armed with the necessary SunSmart supplies and survival tips to help reduce their skin cancer risk.

Cancer Council Queensland SunSmart Co-ordinator Rachel Adams said there were many tips parents and students could easily adopt in their daily routines to better protect themselves during school hours.

“While new school shoes, lunchboxes and books have become back-to-school musts, sunscreen and SunSmart supplies unfortunately often fall into the ‘optional extras’ list for many parents.

“We know sun exposure during childhood and adolescence contributes significantly to skin cancer risk later in life.

“Skin cancer is the easiest type of cancer to prevent, yet unfortunately, our State still records the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.

“The start of a new school year is a great opportunity to challenge your kids and young adults to think of new ways to make their daily school routines more SunSmart and encourage their friends and classmates to do the same,” Ms Adams said.

Cancer Council Queensland’s back to school SunSmart survival tips:

Remember one is never enough
- One method of sun protection is never enough. For the best protection, you need to combine the five methods of sun protection; you must Slip on sun protective clothing, Slop on 30+ water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen, Slap on a broad-brimmed hat, Seek shade between 10am-3pm and Slide on some sunnies.

Make SunSmart a healthy habit
- Being SunSmart should be seen as a healthy habit, just like eating brekkie. So why not combine the two and encourage your kids to apply 30+ broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning after they eat brekkie. This will help them avoid incidental sun exposure during the trip to school.
- Keep track of the time.
- Sunburn can occur in as little as 15 minutes on a fine January day, and when you take into account physical education lessons, sports practice sessions and lunchtime activities, sun exposure can easily add up at the end of a school day. Encourage your children to be aware of how much time they spend in the sun each day and encourage them to seek shadier areas where they can eat and play.

Think inside the (lunch) box
 - Keep small 35mL tubes of 30+ sunscreen in the kitchen cupboard and pop them into the whole family’s lunch boxes every day. This will encourage them to apply their sunscreen at lunchtime and ensure they are protected throughout the day.
 
Be a SunSmart role model
- We know that children whose parents model sun protective behaviours are more likely to practice sun protective behaviours themselves, so make sure you lead by example!

Know your school’s SunSmart rules
- Schools with a written sun protection policy have the greatest number of students and staff protecting themselves from the sun. So if your child’s school is serious about sun protection, why not ask them to consider applying for SunSmart status?

Choose a hat that can keep up with them
- Ensure your child has access to a SunSmart hat that protects their head, face, ears and neck from the sun. A drawstring also helps to keep their hat on their heads during fast-paced activities such as sport and lunchtime activities.

Pack spare sun protection supplies
 - Encourage your kids to keep a spare hat, tube of sunscreen and pair of sunnies in their school desk or locker, because we all forget sometimes. Just don’t forget the long-sleeve swim shirt on swimming days!

For more SunSmart tips and information on how to reduce your skin cancer risk, visit www.cancerqld.org.au or call the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.

Cancer Council Queensland is an independent, community-based charity. The achievements of Cancer Council Queensland are made possible by the generosity of Queenslanders.

ENDS.

For interview opportunities and more information, please contact:
Gemma Ward, Public Affairs Advisor, Cancer Council Queensland
Ph: (07) 3634 5239 or 0488 015 702