Sun safety
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust has appointed Caroline Macrae to work as Sun Safe Coordinator at the Health Promotion Service in Pool. She is working with professionals from the Dermatology Deparment at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, and with the Melanoma Awareness Project. Read more on the Sun Safe in Cornwall website.
Melanoma Awareness Project
The Cornwall Healthy Schools Programme is also proud to be working with Peter and Bet Kaye on their Melanoma Awareness Project.
Resources for schools
Sun safety for schools is our guide giving ideas, information and links. It's available in two versions, primary and secondary. One of the most important things a school can do is to have a sun safety policy. While thinking about what your policy needs to include you may also care to check Cornwall Council's sun safety advice.
Government guidance on the application of sunscreen in schools
As you may be aware there is some confusion around the application of sunscreen and schools. The question was raised in the House of Commons on the 9th September 2009 by Bruce George MP (Walsall). Indeed, he asked the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to undertake a review of the guidance provided to schools on the application of sunscreen products.
The response from the Department was as follows "We have no current guidance specifically on applying sunscreen and none is envisaged. But we would not advise against pupils bringing and applying their own sunscreen in school or during offsite visits. It is for local authorities and governing bodies to formulate their own policies. These should state the school position on the use of sunscreens in the school grounds and farther afield when learning outside the classroom. Teachers and other support staff are not legally obliged to administer sunscreen. That said, schools discharge their duty of care by ensuring that children are not exposed overmuch to the sun in any event. It is good practice for teachers and support staff to check that pupils, while playing or learning in the sunshine, are protected against the risk of sunburn by appropriate clothing and hats as well as sunscreen applied at home or in school and they spend time in the shade as necessary." House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 9th September 2009.
This response does provide some clarity and is an important message we need to ensure is conveyed clearly in all work with schools on sun protection.
Healthy Schools Plus
Some of the schools in cohorts 1 and 2 of Healthy Schools Plus are choosing work that contributes towards reducing melanoma rates in Cornwall, read more.
Use of sunbeds can be dangerous
Cancer Research UK has warned that malignant melanoma, the most common type of skin cancer, is now the most frequently occurring cancer in young adults aged between 15 and 34. In England, on average, six per cent of 11-17 year-olds use sunbeds. Cancer Research UK's data showed that children from lower socio-economic backgrounds used sunbeds more than their better-off counterparts. Researchers found that nationally, of those who used a sunbed almost 27% did so at least once a month in England, and almost one quarter (23.2%) did so at home, read more.
The South West Public Health Observatory has published a report showing a link between sunbed outlet locations and areas of deprivation, read more.