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To work with the HSE and design a programme for other schools to follow in becoming a sun smart school. We want to be the First School in Ireland to become a Sun Smart School.
Our Social Issue
Skin cancer and how education can play a vital role in reducing skin cancer by adopting protective measures.
Why We Chose It
We had a talk about cancer from Maire Keating Foundation. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland and that often the exposure to UV in childhood and adolescence contributes to an increased risk of skin cancer risk in later life. Our classmate has an aunt who had skin cancer and early diagnoses turned out to be vital in her cancer spreading. We wanted to run an awareness campaign as we believe that education about skin cancer at a young age is key for prevention. We wanted to be the first school in Ireland to have a sun safeprogramme
Our Goal
We would like to introduce a Sun Smart School and Accreditation programme about sun protection measures. We want to work with the HSE as a pilot school and become Ireland's First Sun Smart School with the potential to roll it out nationally. To become a Sun Safe School we are proposing the following Create a Sun Protection Policy Display the UV Index each day in areas that students have access to Connect with local pharmacists in the area to offer discounts for purchasing sun screen Have sun screen dispensers available for students Communicate with parents Individual Class Lessons and activities
Our Innovative Action
Contacting HSE in becoming a pilot school for Sun Safe Schools Programme.We have designed a four-step programme for accreditation Step one developing a sun charter a set of guidelines to promote sun safety in school. Step 2 Run an awareness campaign. 1. Displaying the UV Index each day in areas that students frequent 2. Have sun screen dispensers available for students 3. Individual Class Lessons and activities and surveys 4. Displayed the SunSmart 5 S’s in school Step 3 Connect with Parents surveys and HSE literature Step 4 Work with the wider community e.g. local media and pharmacists
Our Impact
We have the potential to reduce the risk of skin cancer in our local community and school by engaging in the pilot programme. We will resurvey in April. We can lead other schools into following the sun safe school programme which will promote of Healthy Behaviours by educating students about the importance of sun protection encourages the adoption of healthy behaviours from a young age. This can lead to lifelong habits of protecting oneself from harmful UV radiation.Prevent Sunburn and Sun Damage as the programme will emphasise the importance of avoiding sunburn by teaching students how toprotectthemselves