Is your shadow shorter than you?
[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/beach-umbrella.jpg” caption=”Local elementary school students will benefit from McMaster medical students sharing their sun safety knowlege.”]Medical students of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine will visit local elementary schools to talk to Grade 4 students about the harmful effects of the sun, and to educate them on protecting themselves.
The Sun and Skin Safety Program, originally designed by a dermatologist in London, Ontario, to help young children understand the importance of sun protection, has been running in London for more than 10 years. Research shows that the program is effective in decreasing sunburns among students.
“I have lived in Hamilton for six years now while attending McMaster, and I think that this is an excellent way to give back to the community,” said Pamela Aird, a second-year medical student involved in the project. “I am really excited to get going on this project and to have my fellow students start meeting with classes here in Hamilton.
“It's a lot of fun for us as medical students to get out of the classroom or the hospital and take this important message out into the community. Hopefully, it will be just as much fun for these students to have us come in and interact with them.”
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| National Sun Awareness Week |
Aird and her colleagues will provide tips for sun protection, such as limiting sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., wearing a hat and clothing to cover their skin, staying in the shade as much as possible, and wearing water proof sunscreens, lip balm and sunglasses. The children will also be reminded about the shadow test – if your shadow is shorter than you, it's time to go inside.
Students will receive a sun facts brochure, stickers and colouring book to take home.
The program is expected to start at the end of May with presentations at elementary schools around Hamilton.
National Sun Awareness Week 2006 runs from Monday, May 29 to Sunday, June 4. For the 2006 campaign, the
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