From: Mrs. Karen Brosnan, School Nurse

What is a "SunWise" School?

A SunWise School teaches children how to protect themselves from overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation.  Our PE teacher, Mr. Coveney, infuses SunWise lessons into the health education component of his curriculum.  Mrs. Brosnan is collaborating with Scottsdale Healthcare, the SHADE Foundation of America and the Environmental Protection Agency to enhance our efforts in protecting our children from overexposure to the sun.  We ask parents to join the team in preventing skin cancer by using sunscreen on their children before sending them to school and encouraging use of hats as another methods of protecting students from sun damage. A sunwise hat is provided to each student at our school by Scottsdale Healthcare. To access more information on this topic you can visit the following websites: www.azdhs.gov/phs/sunwise and www.shadefoundation.org

Feel Like You Are Sizzling?

That is what you are doing when you don't cover up before you go outside. lt may not be hot right now, but you still get the sun's rays. The Ozone layer that protects the earth is thinner than it was 20 years ago. 80% of these rays even get through on cloudy days!  In Arizona, every day is the day to protect yourself against the sun.

Here is what you can do:

Cover up with long sleeves, seek shade, wear a wide-brimmed hat, limit the mid-day sun, use a sunscreen of SPF (sun protective factor) of 15 or higher everyday, wear sunglasses with UV  (ultraviolet) protection, and avoid sun lamps and tanning parlors.

Why bother?:

• Skin cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the US.
• 80% of your sun exposure occurs before age 18.
• One blistering sunburn before age 18 increases your risk of melanoma.
• Skin damage occurs no matter what type or color your skin is.
• Skin cancer is 98% preventable.