Sligo University Hospital launch sun safety programme

Dermatology Nurse Specialists from Sligo University Hospital have launched 'Generation SunSmart', a sun safety programme being rolled out to children in Co. Sligo. This will see 4,000 primary school children across Co. Sligo educated on being Sun Smart. The programme is being led by Dermatology Nurse Specialist, Selene Daly, who will travel to all primary schools in Sligo between April and June to teach the children the 5 S’s of Sun Safety. Every child will receive a special UV legionnaire hat sponsored by Irish skincare brand, Elave, which they will be encouraged to wear outdoors while at school between March 1st and September 30th. There are plans to roll out the programme to primary schools nationwide in 2017.
 
“I started the Generation SunSmart programme as I could see first-hand through my clinic the steady increase in patients presenting with skin cancer," said Selene Daly, Dermatology Nurse Specialist at Sligo University Hospital. “Most of us tend to think that living in an Irish climate means that we don’t have to worry about skin damage. However, the fact is that Ireland now has the highest incidence of skin cancer in Europe and UVA and UVB rays penetrate and damage the skin, even on cloudy days," she added.
 
To celebrate the launch of Generation SunSmart, Elave skincare is giving two lucky families the chance to win a two night Tayto Park family package at the Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley for their Design a Poster competition. Primary school children nationwide are being asked to design a poster that displays a sun safe picture that includes the 5 S’s of Sun Safety. Elave is asking pharmacies nationwide to display copies of the Design a Poster competition throughout April and May.
 
“We at Elave skincare feel very strongly about advocating for adequate sun protection, particularly among children,” said Joanna Gardiner, Managing Director of Ovelle Pharmaceuticals which produces the Elave skincare range. “It is through early intervention educational campaigns like these that we will change habits and make a difference to future generations to come,” she added.
 
For more information and details on how to enter the competition go to https://www.facebook.com/generationsunsmart/
#GenerationSunSmart
https://twitter.com/Gen_SunSmart
 
The 5 S’s of Sun Safety are – SLIP on a t-shirt, SLOP on SPF30+ broad spectrum UVA protection, SLAP on a broad brimmed hat, SLIDE on quality sunglasses, SHADE from the sun whenever possible.
 
Photo caption:
Generation SunSmart 11: Pictured is Selene Daly, Dermatology Nurse Specialist at Sligo University Hospital with children from Scoil Asicus Naofa, Strandhill, Sligo at the launch of Generation SunSmart, a programme that will see 4,000 primary school children across Co. Sligo educated on being safe in the sun.