Sun and UV protection at school

Staying safe in the sun is essential for an individual’s health and wellbeing. NSW public schools play an important role in the education and promotion of sun safety practices to all students.

Schools are also responsible for fostering safe environments for students, including the provision of adequate protection from the sun.

While at school, students are given opportunities to develop knowledge, skills and understanding for managing their own health, such as protecting themselves from the sun.

Importance of sun safety

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, and within Australia it is one of the most common forms of cancer.

Over 95% of all skin cancers are directly related to overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation – so if we protect our skin, we reduce our risk. Even on cool and cloudy days, sun protection is needed.

As UV exposure during the first 18 years of life is the most critical risk factor for developing skin cancer, it is vitally important that we protect children and adolescents from harmful UV exposure to reduce their risk of developing skin cancer in the future.

Everyone, regardless of culture or heritage, is at risk of overexposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Sun protection strategies at school

NSW public schools promote sun protection strategies and encourage students to take also action to protect themselves and reduce their risk of UV exposure. Students can use a combination of sun protection measures recommended by Cancer Council Australia. These strategies are:

1. Slip on some sun-protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible. Uniforms are recommended to include cool, loose-fitting clothes made of tightly woven fabric with collars and sleeves.
2. Slop on broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF50 or 50+ sunscreen.
3. Slap on a hat – broad brimmed, bucket or legionnaire style to protect your face, head, neck and ears. Most schools use a “no hat, play in the shade” strategy, so your child will need their hat to play outdoors with their friends at recess and lunch.
4. Seek shade. Students are encouraged to use available areas of shade when outside.
5. Slide on some sunglasses – make sure they meet Australian Standards.

Families can help by:

• modelling sun protection practices to their children
• applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 50 or 50+ sunscreen to their children before coming to school
• sending sunscreen to school with their children for either self-application, or in the case of some students with a disability, application by staff at key points during the day
• notifying the school if their child has an allergy to a chemical, fragrance or colouring agent in sunscreen
• sending their child to school with a sun safe hat each day.

Hot weather

Schools support students during hot weather through a range of strategies which can include:

• rotating class use of air-conditioned facilities where available
• varying normal teaching programs using shady and cool outdoor facilities
• encouraging students to drink water and allowing drink bottles in the classroom
• using fans or other devices in an appropriate way to remain cool
• reminding students to stay hydrated and cool by drinking water regularly.

Families can help by:

• sending their child to school with a water bottle and encouraging them to drink throughout the day
• sending their children to school with a hat and encouraging them to wear it.

The NSW Health Beat the Heat webpage includes information on how to prepare for and stay healthy in the heat, how to recognise and treat heat related illness, and how to care for people who are at risk of heat-related illness.

Contact details

For futher information, please contact: Student.health@det.nsw.edu.au