Be sun smart

The BE SUN SMART school programme makes sunscreen instantly accessible to school goers and instils vital sun safety habits from an early age.

BE SUN SMART, a school programme which installs serviced sunscreen dispensers at schools in KwaZulu-Natal and provides sun safety education, is gearing up for the summer season ahead.

Scroll down to watch the BE SUN SMART music video…

From Spring Day, 01 September, temperatures will start to rise, and the UV index along with it. This means that we’re all more at risk of damage from UV rays, with children the most vulnerable to sun exposure.

“Often mothers send children to school with sunscreen, but it never leaves their school bag. We’re on a drive to get schools prepared and equipped with sunscreen before it really gets hot outside,” says Hayleigh Bott, co-founder of Be Sun Smart.

BE SUN SMART was launched in KwaZulu-Natal in 2014 by two concerned Durban mothers, Hayleigh Bott and Donna Short, in partnership with NIVEA Sun. The objectives are threefold. Firstly, to make sunscreen instantly accessible when and where it is needed most at schools; secondly, to make sun care part of children’s every day routine; and thirdly, to educate children on sun safety. The learning environment of school is the perfect place for children to learn about sun safety.

BE SUN SMART is supported by the Skin Cancer Foundation of South Africa (SCFSA) and the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA).

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in South Africa, and skin cancer rates in South Africa are the second highest in the world. The most vital step to reduce skin cancer risk is to keep children protected from UV radiation whilst they’re outside especially between 10h00 and 15h00, as well as encouraging use of sun smart habits from an early age.

“While the majority of skin cancers are detected in older patients, this cancer stems from sun damage earlier on in their life. Research shows that reducing childhood exposure to ultraviolet radiation is an important step to minimising lifetime skin cancer risk. Children are more vulnerable to sun damage in a shorter space of time, because their skin is thinner than an adult’s and far more sensitive,” says Dr Marc Roscher of SCFSA.

Dr Caradee Wright, who has published many research studies on this topic says, “Evidence shows that school interventions at primary school level can reduce sunburn incidence and new melanocytic mole development. The school environment can support healthy child sun exposure and reduce risk of skin cancer later in life.”