Schools Failing upon Skin Cancer Smarts

Specialists agree, American schools are failing on their ability to educate our children on sun safety and protect them from the dangers of cancer of the skin.

Recent studies indicate that American schools are failing miserably with regards to protecting students from the ultraviolet rays that create skin cancer. The grim results show that these colleges are not only failing to protect our kids, they actually discourage those students who try to protect themselves.

In recent years, a study had been conducted at colleges across the United States to determine what steps had been being taken to motivate students to take safeguards in the sun. The somber signs are that most colleges were doing absolutely nothing. Only three percent of colleges had guidelines in position to share with their students. Those sun-smart schools are planning outdoor activities during off-peak sunshine hours and offering alternate indoor activities on high Ultra violet index days.

Students who take part in outdoor activities should be encouraged to wear caps, sleeves and sun block between 11 'm and 3 pm hours, the peak sunlight hours. Only a little more compared to three percent associated with schools taking part in the research had passing represents in following these protective guidelines.

Here is another frightening figure: over 66 % of schools do not let teachers to apply sunscreen on students, unless the request had been accompanied by a doctor's prescription. To make matters worse, fewer than five percent of schools are ready to provide sunscreen in order to students who request it. That is simply instructing kids the wrong training. Most schools ban hats, in the fear that students will distribute head lice through sharing hats. Sunglasses are also banned at most schools. Fewer than 20 percent of outdoor school areas have shaded places available to allow college students a protective escape from the sun.

It's high time to give school principals a few sun safety lessons. At the time of this research, nearly 70 percent of school principals felt that alerting students to the dangers of UV exposure was a waste of time and resources. Others claimed to be unaware that spending a lot of time in the direct sunlight on the school playground, could increase students' dangers of acquiring cancer of the skin. A full 84 percent of principals, on the other hand, admitted that their students often spent a great deal time outdoors throughout peak sunlight hrs.

If schools are actually going to provide the protection and education our children need as well as deserve, they're going to have to create some changes. The report suggested the following improvements:

* Planting trees can beautify the actual schoolyard and provide necessary shade for students.

* Buildings should be built to create shaded areas, as well as wider overhangs should be added to all school buildings. These efforts would provide protection for many students.

* Schools should make every possible effort to schedule outdoor activities before or after maximum sunlight hours.

* The use of sunscreen should be considered mandatory for all college students, and not just permitted for any select few. No student should need a doctor's note to receive daily sun block application.

* Caps and sunglasses should be encouraged for all students spending time outdoors.

* Lessons in wellness class should include skin cancer prevention. Students must know the reasons, effects and prevention of this potentially lethal disease.

It's not always easy to encourage children and teenagers to make smart choices, particularly when the actual negative effects won't enter into play until decades later. Even so, these are lessons that must be taught, and school may be the sensible place to start. As parents, teachers and principals, all of us share a responsibility along with a duty to keep our kids well educated as well as safe.

Schools that discourage kids from making healthy options are definitely failing. It seems that its time to educate the teachers and principals, and not just our students.

Article resource: articlemotron . com