Early Childhood - SunSmart

Nau mai Haere mai Koutou katoa Welcome and thanks for taking an interest in being SunSmart at your centre! Have a look over this information and see how the Cancer Society together with your WAVE Facilitator can support you in further developing your SunSmart practices to protect the health and well being of your children.

Skin cancers are the most common form of cancers in New Zealand with around 50,000 New Zealanders diagnosed a year. The mortality rate from skin cancer is among the highest in the world. There is strong evidence that excessive exposure to UVR during childhood and adolescence is a risk factor for developing skin cancer later in life and it has been estimated that over 90% of melanomas in Australasia are attributable to sunlight exposure. An emphasis on sun protection and skin cancer prevention in Early Childhood centres is important for two reasons:

1. These are places where infants and young children spend much of their time

2. These also provide opportunities through staff professional development and curriculum incorporation for both staff and children to learn about appropriate strategies for sun protection.

The Cancer Society's Health Promoter  works with WAVE on  SunSmart and are available to support  an educational setting  to develop their own SunSmart culture within their setting. They will work with you to: 

• Support settings to identify opportunities and barriers to sun protection
• Provide information and resources on sun protection and skin cancer prevention
• Assist in developing action plans for implementing sun protection strategies
• Provide ideas and support for promotional activities and events
• Help review and develop sun protection policy or procedures
• Undertake professional development for teachers/educators as needed
• Assist with applications and supporting information for funding
• Provide a free ‘Shade Tent Loan Scheme' to support settings with shade at events

( NB:   Some points above are relevant for only some settings. Currently the Cancer Society have prioritised the implementation of the SunSmart Accreditation Programme in Primary school setting as their key area of focus and input of resource.  But please contact your WAVE Facilitator and they will ensure your SunSmart request is supported as best they can. Thank you. )

LEOLA RYDER (married name is Smith) JOB ROLE:   Smokefree/SunSmart Health Promotion
BACKGROUND:  Mum to Campbell and Mackenzie A lifetime ago I was a Platoon SGT in the army Diploma of Sport and Recreation Been with C&PH 12 years and still learning
FAVOURITES:  Physical Activity: Watching and playing rugby, going for long walks and on bike rides with my husband and 2 children and anything that involves moving to music!. Food: Avocado and Cottage Cheese sammies, creamed rice, nectarines, apples, bananas (brain food!), oh and roast spuds! Drink: Lime milkshakes and good ol H2O              Saying: “Life is too short, go for it!.”
BEST THING ABOUT THIS JOB: Smokefree is increasingly becoming 'the norm' and seeing people get passionate about living a smokefree lifestyle.
LOOKING FORWARD TO:  Working with schools to show them smokefree is more than 'just a sign on a gate'
CONTACT DETAILS: Phone:  03 687 2610 DD Email:   leola.ryder@cdhb.govt.nz

 

What's available locally to help you become SunSmart?

• Information for teachers, parents and children
• Sample sun protection policies that can be adapted to your setting
• Endorsement letters for funding of hats, shade etc
• SunSmart certificates
• Guidelines for shade planning and design
• Hat guidelines and much more……

• Any information you want on all aspects of skin cancer and sun protection including Information sheets you can print off covering: Skin cancers; Early Childhood settings; Protection; General Information, Statistics and much more……

• Information on Skin cancer - the disease
• Shade
• Skin cancer control in NZ
• Information on the Ultraviolet Index and the ozone layer

• Have some fun with Cody - the SunSmart Turtle

Children and Adult sunscreen order forms available

SunSmart stickers

(A charge may apply)

Your local Cancer Society Health Promoter:  

Kate Johnson
32 Memorial Avenue
Timaru

Ph: 03 688 0124
Fax: 03 684 6314

Email: kate@canty.cancernz.org.nz