s&
f An Update on EPA's SunWise Program
Receive; National
n 2003, SunWise and the Curt and
Shonda Schilling Melanoma
Foundation of America (SHADE)
together received the "Excellence in
Cancer Awareness" award. Presented
by the Congressional Families Action
for Cancer Awareness, a program of
the Cancer Research and Prevention
Foundation, the award honored EPA
and SFFADE for their partnership and
fight to eliminate skin cancer.
The Congressional Families Program is
a network of more than 110
Congressional, Administration, and
Supreme Court spouses committed to
reducing cancer incidence through edu-
Left to right: Shonda Schilling, Kristin
Kenausis, Paula Selzer, Sue Gorham,
Linda Rutsch, and Curt Schilling
cation and prevention. It presents the
excellence award each fall to an individ-
ual or organization for outstanding con-
Partner; w/i
ounded in 2002 by Shonda Schilling — wife of Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt
Schilling, mother of four small children, and melanoma survivor — the SFFADE
Foundation strives to protect children from melanoma through education. In its
first year, SFFADE reached 2 1 million people through a public
awareness campaign, distributed 50,000 free SPF 30 sun-
screen samples, provided SunWise education to 126,000
children in 233 schools, engaged 3,100 children and 50
schools in a poster competition, and provided shade cov-
erings to eight schools.
SFFADE's Web site, , is a
place where melanoma patients, survivors, and their fami-
lies can find information and support. Parents and teachers
can find information on the SFFADE SunWise partnership and
programs to educate their children. Corporations and individu-
als can learn how they can provide sun safety lessons to chil-
dren. SunWise looks forward to working with SFFADE in 2004
to educate even more children and their families.
The Schilling Family
tribution to cancer prevention and
education. Past award recipients
include: Katie Couric, Senator Bob
Dole, Sam Donaldson, Patti FaBelle,
Senator Connie Mack and Mrs. Priscilla
Mack, Nancy Murkowski, the
Honorable Sandra Day O'Connor,
General H. Norman Schwarzkopf,
and Jane Seymour. For additional infor-
mation, visit .
In 2002, EPAs SunWise Program received
the Federal Council on Skin Cancer
Preventions Annual Achievement Award,
which recognizes a federal agency or indi-
vidual within an agency for outstanding
skin cancer prevention efforts.
First launched nationally in May 2000,
the SunWise Program is now implement-
ed in more than 9,000 schools in all 50
states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC.
For information on how to join, visit
.
HIGHLIGHTS
Shade Structures in Schools 2
In the SunWise Spotlight 3
Featured Activity 3
Schools Receive Recognition 4
School Health Policy Guide 6
New Partnerships 7
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SunWise Monitor
Made i* the
hanks to a determined mother
and melanoma survivor, kids in
all 22 elementary schools in
Collier County, Florida, now swing,
slide, and climb on playground equip-
ment covered by sun-protecting mesh
canopies.
Merryhill School, Davis, California
A native of the "Sunshine State," Teryl
Brzeski is intimately familiar with the
hazards of sun overexposure. First diag-
nosed with melanoma 18 years ago,
Brzeski has beaten the odds in her battle
against this most deadly form of skin
cancer. Now she wants to make sure her
young daughter and all other Collier
county kids are as sun safe as possible.
After two years of persistent lobbying,
the county school board voted to allo-
cate the $2 million necessary to erect
the shade structures at each of the
county elementary schools. The
canopies were put in place over the
summer, in time for the new school
year. Collier County might be the only
school system in the country with all of
its playgrounds covered by shade.
The polyethylene canopies, which cover
the 8,000-square-foot playgrounds, block
out 90 to 95 percent of the sun's UV rays
and lower the temperature underneath by
15 degrees. The mesh construction
allows heat to escape, lowering the risk of
heat exhaustion and dehydration. Such
canopies are widely manufactured and
available in the United States.
A survey of elementary school princi-
pals, published in 2002 in the Archives
of Dermatology by David B. Buller,
PhD, and Alan Geller, RN, MPH, found
that nearly three-fourths of schools
report having shade structures, but
most of those structures cover less than
one-fifth of the school grounds.
So what's stopping schools
from erecting playground
shade structures or ensuring
that shade trees are planted
on school grounds? Funding
is certainly an issue, but the
main problem appears to be
lack of awareness. This lack
of awareness, as well as other
organizational barriers, has
resulted in only 3 percent of
schools surveyed having sun
protection policies in place.
Most principals (84 percent)
fa;t fact;:
Outdoor school recess often takes
place during the peak sun hours
between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The federal government has classi-
fied UV radiation as a human
carcinogen, along with other cancer-
causing agents such as asbestos,
radon, and tobacco smoke.
reported that their students were out-
doors during the peak mid-day sun
hours, and most (76 percent) said
they'd be willing to increase shade
structures.
fafety i*
n Guidelines for School Programs to
Prevent Skin Cancer, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) conclude that by actively pro-
moting sun safety and implementing
sun-safe lessons and policies, schools
can change student behavior and help
prevent skin cancer.
Among the recommendations present-
ed in the report:
• Schools should adopt policies that
reduce students' exposure to UV
rays, such as limiting mid-day out-
door activities, building shade struc-
tures, and allowing students to wear
sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses.
• Sun safety lessons should be includ-
ed as part of a comprehensive health
education curriculum and integrated
into other subject areas as well.
• Schools should provide skin cancer
education and reinforce key mes-
sages over time, from pre-kinder-
garten through 12th grade.
• Sun safety lessons should be deliv-
ered during times of the year when
students have the most opportuni-
ties for sun exposure and sun pro-
tection.
The CDC worked with specialists in
dermatology, pediatrics, public health,
and education; national, federal, state,
and voluntary agencies; schools; and
other organizations to develop the
guidelines.
For more information on the CDC
guidelines, visit .
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SunWise Monitor
tke
ow can we teach sun safety to every student in a school? That was a question fifth
grade teacher Kristi Cameron asked her students at Glenallan Elementary School
in Silver Spring, Maryland. The students responded by working in teams to first
learn about sun safety themselves, then produce PowerPoint presentations to teach the
younger students in the
school about sun safety
Based on a short pre-
assessment discussion at the
beginning of the process,
Cameron was surprised by
her students' overall lack of
knowledge about sun safety
But by using various activities in the SunWise kit, such
as the UV Frisbee, to enhance her solar energy curricu-
lum unit, Cameron helped her students learn sun safe-
ty basics. By researching, constructing, and then pre-
senting their PowerPoint slides, students learned even
more about sun safety and practiced their organizational and public speaking skills.
Other teachers in the school gave positive feedback to Cameron's students, commend-
ing them on their attentiveness to detail and good coverage of information presented.
The effort clearly had an effect on all the students' behavior, as more hats, sunglasses,
and sun block began to show up during recess. "Hats on" to this creative teacher and
her students!
The SunWise staff is eager to hear what is
happening in your classroom. Please contact
us by using the "contact us" link from our
Web site at .
Wky ItV Wire
to be f»mWi;e:
Skin cancer is the most
common form of can-
cer in the United States
—more than 1 million
cases of nonmelanoma
skin cancer are found
in this country each
year.
e Activity
Talk
Grades: 6-8
Subjects: Language Arts, Science, Health
Suggested Time Allowance: 45 minutes to 2 hours (with
presentations)
In this activity, students will set up a "talk show," then
research and play-act guests. First, the class will develop
criteria for guests and generate a possible guest list. Guests
should be individuals or organizations that have made a sig-
nificant contribution to the protection of the ozone layer or
have been a positive role model for sun protection behav-
iors. Some suggestions are: scientists who developed sun-
screen, the organizations/people responsible for developing
the UV Index, legislators who have set positive policies for
youth sun protection, or schools with active community
involvement in providing shade structures for students.
Next, working in groups of three or four, students will
select an appropriate number of guests and a time limit for
their show. Students will research the contributions their
specific guests have made and then develop engaging and
factual dialogue for the show. The show should include an
introduction, a description of each guest and their contri-
bution to the protection of the ozone layer or their work as
a positive role model for sun protection behaviors, as well
as dialogue, which can take a question-and-answer format.
Dialogue should probe deeper into the work of each guest.
Each group of students will then
present their "talk show" to the rest
of the class. Students
should be evaluated
on the content and
general presentation
of the show.
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o
SunWise Monitor
Vo«/r
far a*
Deadline: March 30, 2004
he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is
pleased to announce a call for nominations for the
second annual SunWise Recognition Program.
The awards recognize schools at two levels:
• The Shining Star Schools and Educators Award is
presented to 10 schools nationally, one in each EPA
region. This designation recognizes partner schools
and educators who are enthusiastically implementing
the program in a variety of different ways. Shining
Star schools and educators have shown a lasting
commitment to sun safety education by either adapt-
ing the SunWise program in new and effective ways,
discovering unique ways to share the SunWise mes-
sage in the community, or by implementing the pro-
gram in multiple classrooms or grade levels.
• The Helios Leadership Award is presented to schools
making outstanding contributions to promoting sun
safety. Schools must meet all of the eligibility criteria
for the Shining Star Award and have shown leader-
ship in school-based sun safety education either by:
instituting a policy to address sun safety that can
serve as a model to other schools/districts; erecting a
shade structure; or addressing the issue of sun safety
in a way that sets them apart from the Shining Star
Schools.
Anyone may nominate a school for a SunWise award.
Awardees may receive the following: a letter of congratu-
lations from EPA, a plaque or framed certificate, addi-
tional UV Frisbees, media attention
from your local press, recognition
from EPA on the Agency's Web site,
a free pass to a national teachers
conference, or other exciting prizes.
For complete information on how
to nominate a school and specific
award information, visit
or contact
Paula Selzer at (202) 343-9361.
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SunWise Monitor
I have very little "free" teaching time to use the SunWise
Program with my class. What can I do?
Flexibility is key to the SunWise Program. You can use as
much time as you have available to impart important lessons
about sun safety The following are some helpful hints
received from educators across the country for incorporating
the SunWise Program into the classroom.
• Use the newspaper weather page as a "scavenger hunt" for
the UV Index readings, cloud cover, and other meteorologi-
cal information.
• Use SunWise activities for "testing day" activities. The
SunWise activities are the perfect informative and fun solu-
tion for the teachers and students on these statewide or dis-
trictwide days. The activities are challenging and will allow
teachers to maintain the same "theme" throughout the
entire testing time frame. Small group and individual activi-
ties require a minimal amount of teacher preparation and
are of high interest to students.
• Use the SunWise fact sheets as part of field trip permission
forms and as inserts for PTA newsletters. These tips will
provide valuable information to parents, who will be better
informed to protect students during field days and outdoor
field trips.
• Use the SunWise activities as part of a unit on outdoor edu-
cation.
• Use the SunWise activities as part of student service-learn-
ing or family involvement nights. Organize activities that
involve the community.
How can I purchase another UV meter?
For the past several years, EPA was able to
distribute a limited number of
UV meters to educators and
meteorologists. Due to
resource constraints, EPA is
phasing out the free dis-
tribution of these meters.
EPA procured the meters
through a competitive
process in which two ven-
dors were selected. They
are:
• The Safesun personal UV meter
from Optix Tech, Inc.,
• The UV Index solarmeter from Solartech, Inc.,
If you would like to obtain a UV meter, you may contact one
of the vendors above, or select any of the other suppliers of
these meters in the open market. We urge you to check the
open market for price, quality, and delivery terms before pur-
chasing UV meters. EPA cannot endorse the products and
services of these vendors.
Video
esigned for teachers, school nurses, parents, and
school administrators, SunWise: A Sun Safety
Program for Grades K-8 is a free, 12 -minute
video for those who would like to learn more about
the easy-to-use SunWise program. The video
describes the SunWise program by:
• Using classroom footage and interviews.
• Outlining sun safe behaviors to prevent long-term
illness.
• Illustrating the historical context in which
Americans developed risky sun behaviors.
Call the National Service Center for Environmental
Publications at (800) 490-9198 for a free copy of
the video.
The WtWe Tool Kit if
available in
La;
ertin
erpanoll
en
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SunWise Monitor
Health Policy 6«i4e
by
he National Association of State Boards of Education
(NASBE) recently released a new chapter of its popular
publication, Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn: A School
Health Policy Guide. Entitled Part II: Policies to Promote Sun
Safety and Prevent Skin Cancer, this new section helps state
and local decisionmakers develop policies to help students
adopt lifelong healthy sun safety practices. The chapter was
created in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) and the National School Boards
Association.
The new material provides information about the five impor-
tant parts of a comprehensive school sun safety policy such
as the importance of developing an efficient statement of pur-
pose and a series of goals. It also advocates sun safety educa-
tion and behavior among both students and staff. In addition,
the book introduces ways to implement sun safety practices
during outdoor activities and emphasizes the importance of
family and community involvement. Also included are rec-
ommendations for easy and inexpensive prevention measures
to integrate the information into academic, health, and physi-
cal education programs. Finally, the guide contains several
state and local "best practices," relevant scientific data, and a
list of key resources.
According to NASBE's Executive Director Brenda Welburn,
"Schools have an absolutely critical role to play in protecting
children under their care from too much sun exposure in the
short-term and instilling in them the knowledge they need to
make informed, healthy lifestyle decisions to reduce their risk
of skin cancer in the long-term."
Part II: Policies to Promote Sun Safety and Prevent Skin Cancer
can be ordered for $12 (plus shipping and handling).
Contact NASBE at (800) 220-5183 or visit
(click on the "KIDS"
tab). Selecting activities in three levels of difficulty, students can practice
their mouse skills while making SunWise clothing choices, find hidden
SunWise vocabulary words, solve word puzzles, answer SunWise trivia
questions, and play with a SunWise slide puzzle.
Lisa wants to 90 outside and play, She will
to dress SunWis*ly HcJp Lisa dr*» in the the
clothes that will best protect her from harmful
LTV nays. Click and drag the items to dress Ufa
va
My
be
Effective sun protection
is practiced by less than
one-third of U.S. youth.
In 1935, the lifetime
risk of someone in the
United States develop-
ing melanoma was one
in 1,500. In 2001, the
risk was one in 71 , and
by 201 0 it is projected
that the risk will rise to
one in 50.
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SunWise Monitor
s part of a long-term strategy to make sun safety a sus-
tainable and community-based effort, the SunWise
Program has expanded from a traditional K-8 class-
room audience to include a number of informal education,
sports, and non-profit sun protection organizations. By form-
ing partnerships, SunWise is able to pursue a more compre-
hensive approach to teaching children and caregivers about
sun safety. New partners include:
• Meteorologists. SunWise, in partnership with the National
Weather Service and the American Meteorological Society,
has developed a tool kit specifically for meteorologists. The
kit is intended to assist meteorologists in educating children
about UV radiation and sun protection.
• Science Museums. With the help of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS),
SunWise is expanding its reach to science centers and other
informal institutions nationwide. Through programming
such as summer camps, planetarium
shows, children's theater, and spe-
cial events, kids learn about
the importance of
sun safe behaviors
with an emphasis on
science.
In spring 2004, EPA and AAAS will host workshops to
recruit science centers in Los Angeles, Tampa, and Chicago.
In addition, the Capital Children's Museum in Washington,
DC, and the Me Wane Center in Birmingham, Alabama, will
host Teacher Training Workshops. EPA is also working with
the New England Science Center Collaborative to introduce
SunWise to New England science centers this spring. EPAs
goal is to reach 50 science centers by the end of 2004.
1 U.S. Soccer Foundation. SunWise is partnering with the
U.S. Soccer Foundation on the Make Sun Safety Your Goal
campaign. Through this partnership, SunWise promoted
sun safe behaviors by sponsoring game-day events and pro-
motions such as give-aways (e.g., sun safety posters, a
bookmark, lip balm). This past
season, sun safety game days
were held in five cities. In
spring 2004, SunWise will
expand this outreach to include
youth soccer leagues and
coaches and a pilot pledge pro-
gram. Look for more details on
this initiative in the months to
come.
"Check Your Insides Out" Tour
Features SunWise
The "Check Your Insides Out—From Top to Bottom" tour,
featuring the SunWise Program, is designed to teach people
of all ages about the prevention, early detection, and treat-
ment of skin, breast, prostate, lung, oral, and colorectal can-
cers. Hands-on activities make this unique exhibit education-
al and enjoyable. The tour will be brought to cities around
the country by the Cancer Research and Prevention
Foundation, who also brought you the Colossal Colon Tour.
For information on the tour schedule, visit
.
Skin Cancer Prevention Workshop
SunWise is exploring the possibility of hosting a free one-day
workshop in Washington, DC, for those interested in skin
cancer prevention education. The goal of this event is to
bring together organizations with similar goals to learn about
each other's work, examine ways to pool resources, and
become an effective force in promoting skin cancer preven-
tion education. Specifically, SunWise would like to discuss
what resources EPA can provide to these organizations to
help support SunWise at the local level.
For more information, contact SunWise at
.
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©
SunWise Monitor
he purpose of the new lesson,
"Historical and Cultural Influences
on Tanning," is to educate stu-
dents about society's relationship with
the sun over the centuries, to stimulate
thought about the role of the sun in
their own lives, and encourage sun safe
behavior.
Available to teachers and school nurses,
this new lesson includes a teachers
guide, a set of questions for discussion,
and three sets of questions for classroom
group work. In addition, the lesson
includes an interactive classroom game
that addresses the conflict between
health and beauty, societal impacts on
what is perceived as attractive, and con-
formity in regard to physical appear-
ance. The goal is to encourage students
to think about the historical, social, and
cultural forces behind sun tanning.
This lesson, developed at the Boston
University School of Medicine and per-
formed under an EPA contract, is avail-
able by contacting Linda Rutsch at
or Alan Geller at
.
:\-
o» tke Road i» 1004
• March 20-21: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
(ASCD), New Orleans, LA
• April 1 -4: National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Atlanta, GA
• April 17-19: National Association of Elementary School Principles
(NAESP), San Francisco, CA
• April 21-24: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Philadelphia, PA
• July 11-14: National Association of School Nurses (NASN), Seattle, WA
• November 4-6: National Middle School Association (NMSA), Minneapolis, MN
* Check the conference program to attend a SunWise workshop session.
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