TRUSCOTT STREET  PUBLIC SCHOOL
SKIN SAFE POLICY, 1998.

RATIONALE:

Australia has the highest incidence of skin cancer in the world with 140,000 new cases recordered each year.

There are four factors, often occuring simultaneously, which contribute to these statistics:

 1. The population is predominantly fair-skinned.

 2. Ultraviolet light from the sun is of sufficient intensity to induce skin cancer in this        susceptible population.

 3. For most of this century, social values have supported the belief that a sun tan is attractive      and healthy.

 4. Lifestyle, work, school and recreational habits expose people to the sun for long periods.

Skin damage, including skin cancer, is the result of cumulative exposure to the sun. Much of the damage occurs during childhood and adolescence. Primary schools can help reduce the incidence of skin cancer by encouraging all members of the school community to take effective skin-protection measures.

AIM:

To ensure children gain the knowledge, skills and attitudes to adopt a healthy lifestyle which will reduce their risk of skin cancer.

OUTCOMES:

Students will:

• .  be aware of protective behaviours.
• .  be aware of the dangers of wind and sun.
• .  have a desire to stay healthy and skin safe.
• .  be responsible for their own protection by wearing a school hat, protective clothing and
•    sunscreen, if appropriate, when exposed to the sun.
• .  encourage peers to take responsible action and wear a hat and protective clothing.
• .  take responsible action and sit in shade when they do not have a
•    hat.

Staff will:

• .  set an example by wearing a hat..
• .  raise student awareness by both incidental and planned units of work on sun safety.
• .  acknowledge children who wear hats and take other appropriate measures to protect
•    themselves.
• .  work with the grounds committee to provide effective amounts of summer shade.
• .  remind children to wear hats during breaks or play in shade.
• .  develop classroom routines for organisation of hats.
• .  ensure students, parents and teachers encourage appropriate protection for excursions
•    and sports carnivals.

Parents/Guardians will:

• .  support the school policy.
• .  supply, and encourage children to wear, protective clothing, school hats and, where
•    desired by the family, sunscreen, both while at school and on family outings.
• .  set an example by using protective products themselves, where appropriate.
• .  discuss issues with their children including prevention, recognition and
•    treatment of cancers.
• .  share expertise, information and educational material with the school.

PROCESS/ROLES:
Students participate in regular classroom lessons relating to Skin Safe behaviour.  The Skin Safe Program (N.S.W. Cancer Council) will be taught during Term 4 of each year.  It will be reinforced during Term 1 of the following year.

Parents will be made aware of the school's Skin Safe Policy through Truscott News, the school's information booklet (prospectus) and at the Kindergarten HomeLink  program.

• .  Hats providing appropriate protection are made available through the
•    School uniform shop.
• .  Staff should set an example by wearing a hat while on playground duty and
•    during excursions.
• .  Students will be required to wear school hats all year. Those students who
•    do not have hats will be required to sit in the shade.
• .  Students are responsible for ensuring that their hats are stored in a suitable place while
•    they are in class

Staff will carefully consider which outdoor activities are suitable throughout the year particularly between 11.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. and accommodate changes where possible.  Consideration will also be given, subject to suitable facilities, to selecting venues with appropriate shade for school sporting carnivals.

This Policy will be periodically reviewed to ensure that it is consistent with current research and findings regarding skin protection and directives and policies issued by the Department of Education and Training.

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