Schools and students
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The Cancer Council Tasmania recommends that from September 1 to the end of April schools use a combination of sun protection measures to protect young people from ultraviolet (UV) radiation and the risk of skin damage.
Schools have a duty of care to protect young people from foreseeable harm. Sunburn is a foreseeable outcome of exposure to the sun and there is now considerable evidence linking exposure to UV radiation, particularly during childhood and adolescence, to the development of skin cancer later in life. |
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The Cancer Council Tasmania recommends that schools develop a sun protection policy that documents the measures the school is taking to protect students and staff from overexposure to UV radiation.
The policy should include a range of measures such as spending less time in the sun when UV radiation is highest , providing shade, requiring the wearing of protective clothing and hats, and as a last resort ensuring sunscreen is used.
The Generation SunSmart website
The Generation SunSmart website helps teachers and school nurses . It provides year 1, 2, 4 and 6/7 teachers with ready made curriculum activities and programs upon which to base sun safety learning experiences. The Kidskin kit activities are student-centred, interactive, cross-curricular and most importantly - FUN!
Measures schools should take
plan outdoor activities outside peak UV times, or use venues that have adequate shade Swimming carnivals could be held early or late in the day or at pools with large areas of shade
increase access to shade by optimising the use of existing shade, for example relocating play equipment to a shady area or removing low branches from trees so students can play underneath
develop plans to increase natural or built shade structures in frequently used areas of the school
select surfaces to reduce reflected UV radiation, for example, replace smooth concrete with brick, grass or tanbark
Wearing protective gear
Hats:
the following hats are a requirement of the SunSmart Schools Program and are strongly recommended for all schools:
broad brimmed hats with a brim of at least 7.5cm
legionnaire hats, which cover the head, ears and neck. These do not offer as much protection for the cheeks and lower face, but younger children find these easier to manage
bucket or surfie style hats, with an angled brim of at least 6cm
baseball caps and visors do not protect the back of the neck or ears and are not recommended. Like clothing, hats should be made of a closely woven fabric or fibre, so UV radiation doesn't penetrate
Clothing:
students should be required to wear clothing that covers the neck, shoulders, upper arms and legs such as shirts with a collar and elbow length sleeves, and knee-length shorts or skirts
fabric rated above UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) 30 provides very good protection against UV radiation. Loose-fitting clothes made of closely woven fabric provide the best protection
outdoor swimming classes or carnivals are high-risk situations for overexposure to UV radiation. Students should be encouraged to wear rash vests when swimming, or dry T-shirts (or similar) when they are out of the water
Sunglasses:
wearing appropriate sunglasses can reduce the risk of short-term damage and irritation from UV radiation, as well as long-term diseases such as cataracts . Best protection is offered by glasses that comply with the Australian Standard and are marked EPF (eye protection factor) 10. C lose fitting, wrap-around styles are recommended as these greatly reduce the amount of UV radiation reaching the eyes around the edges of the lens
Sunscreen:
students may need to be reminded to use sunscreen in conjunction with other sun protection methods. SPF (sun protection factor) 30+, broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen offers the best protection and should be applied 20 minutes before going outdoors and reapplied every two hours or more often if it has been wiped, rubbed or perspired off
Young people and vitamin D
everyone needs some UV radiation to aid in the production of vitamin D. However, in Australia UV radiation levels are high from September to April and most people receive sufficient vitamin D from incidental exposure to sunlight during normal day-to-day activities at this time of year.
However, for Tasmanians to get adequate vitamin D production with safe sun exposure from May 1 to the end of August we need about half an hour of midday sun or about 45 minutes of morning or afternoon sun.
Staff as models of SunSmart behaviour
staff and parents should model sun smart behaviour; young people are quick to notice inconsistencies in rules and behaviour, and between teaching and practice.
For more information call the Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20
