SCHOOL NEWS

SUMMER SUNSHINE AND THE SCHOOL SWIMMING CARNIVAL

At McKinnon we aim to encourage our students to be SunSmart so they can reduce their risk of skin cancer later in life. 

We know that a healthy balance of exposure to the sun’s UV rays is important for everyone. However, the latest information indicates that the information we should be paying particular attention to is the UV Index reported by the Bureau of Meteorology. This is a far more accurate way of protecting ourselves against skin damage that can lead to skin cancer. The predicted temperature for the day, the time of day and the month of the year are also important considerations, but UV radiation can be high even on cool and overcast days. Our advice? Apply sunscreen prior to coming to school and bring some from home to apply when necessary. SPF50+ is the recommended sunscreen and needs to be applied liberally.

The school hat is a compulsory part of the PE and sport uniform and MUST be worn Terms 1 and 4 during these lessons. It can also be worn to and from school, at recess and lunchtime or when attending an outside class such as peer support.

We are now aware that eyes are very sensitive to UV damage. Wearing a broad-brimmed hat can cut the amount of UV radiation reaching your eyes by 50%. Wearing both a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses can reduce UV rays to the eyes by up to 98%, therefore sunglasses may also be worn when in the sun.

Our Annual Swimming Carnival is to be held on WEDNESDAY 27 FEBRUARY. We encourage students to be responsible by wearing hats, sunscreen and covering up whilst waiting for their events or watching other students participate. It is the students’ responsibility to manage their SunSmart behaviour although we do remind them and reinforce sun protection measures.  If they do happen to forget their sunscreen on the day, there will be sunscreen lotion available.

It is also important to be mindful that, as we know, Melbourne can have four seasons in one day, so be prepared!

The following links may be useful if you want more information.

Please visit the Cancer Council Australia website for more information including the link to a useful SunSmart App.

http://www.cancer.org.au/preventing-cancer/sun-protection/uv-alert/

Susan Wilken

Community Health