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Shonda Schilling Criticized For Sun Protection Program
Good press or bad press, we LOVE this program. What a great idea to keep kids in the shade!
Shade / UV Index
“We can’t afford shade structures, so the subject of sun safety will not be considered,” declared one school administrator.
Although shade structures may indeed require acquisition funding there are numerous steps a school can take to reduce children’s exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation with little or no financial impact.
Avoid unintentional sun exposure
Begin with a survey of your schoolsite(s) to identify existing areas that are shaded. Children should not be required to spend time in direct midday sunlight if a shade alternative is at hand. For example, sometimes children are ushered into the middle of a field for a prolonged period of time during a disaster drill, or are required to sit at a lunch table that is not shaded. Establish procedures to shift activity and congregation into shaded or indoor areas when feasible. When there is no reasonable alternative, compensate by encouraging or providing other sun-protective items, such as hats, long clothing, umbrellas, and sunscreen.
Track the UV Index
The level of ultraviolet radiation striking your school varies with the altitude, season, time of day, and weather conditions. Levels are greater from March to November, and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during daylight saving time. These are the periods when sun safety should be most strongly promoted.
The Ultraviolet Index is calculated daily to forecast the strength of ultraviolet radiation across the nation. You can determine the UV Index for your area by logging on to the EPA website at www.epa.gov/sunwise. Click on “UV Index,” and search by entering your zip code.
Kickoff your sun safety program each year during the first week of March with announcements, reminders, instruction, etc.. Between March and November (or year-round in high UV areas) heighten awareness by tracking and communicating the UV Index to the school community, accompanied by appropriate warnings and sun safety tips when the level is high.
Shade trees
Trees can not only provide shade for outdoor activities, they can also help to keep school buildings cooler, reducing air conditioning costs. Look for sites on the campus that could benefit from tree shade.
Mr. Frank McDouough, horticulturist at the Los Angeles Arboretum, has provided his recommendations for the best shade trees for use on Southern California campuses. See his list on our trees page.
Through their “Campus Forestry” program, Tree People (a California nonprofit) assists schools to design and develop a tree-planting program involving the participation of students, staff, and parents. Visit their website at http://www.treepeople.org/
Scheduling of outdoor activities
There usually aren’t sufficient resources for making substantial changes, but try to take advantage of lower UV levels before 10:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. by prioritizing outdoor activities during those periods. Between 10 and 4, which is of course most of the schoolday, don’t discourage outdoor physical activity but, particularly during the high UV season, strongly promote sun safety measures to “Block the sun; Not the fun.”
In areas of the country where winters are cold, there is usually a gymnasium, even at elementary schools, to provide children with a protected environment for physical activity. During sunny weather, capitalize on a gym’s capacity to protect against UV radiation as well.
Architecture
The area adjacent to a building can sometimes be a good source of shade. Locate and encourage the utilization of such existing areas. Any plans for new construction or remodeling should include shade provision as an important and desirable feature. Factors such as height, positioning of the building(s) on the lot, overhangs, and breezeways can significantly increase shade availability.
Shade structures
The lunch area and the young children’s play equipment are two sites commonly found on school campuses where shade would be very appropriate. In some cases, a shade structure might be the best solution. Over the lunch area, a steel roofed structure might be the best choice due to the added rain-protective feature. For play equipment and large or irregular shaped areas, a UV-blocking fabric cover would be a logical choice.
Of course it wouldn’t be possible, or even desirable, to shade the entire school campus. However, reasonable efforts can be made to increase the shade options currently available to the students and staff. When shade structures are desired, check for available grant, state, or local resources, and partner with parent groups to organize a fundraising drive.
11:00 - 10 July 2007
Every year, doctors see hundreds of youngsters suffering with sunburn. The medics’ main gripe? Sunburn is preventable. ALISTAIR HARRIS reports
Now that the summer has finally arrived, or at least called ahead to let people know it will be late, skin experts have reminded everyone to take care in the sunshine.
They have warned that children especially are at risk from the sun - youngsters who burn are twice as likely to get skin cancer in later life.
A new survey by the British Association of Dermatologists claims 95 per cent of primary schools do not have a sun protection policy.
It contacted 345 schools and found 44% had no shaded area in the playground, and only 55% encouraged pupils to use sun cream, usually on excursions.
Dermatologist Mary Laing, who will present the study to the association in Birmingham this week, said: “All types of skin cancer are largely preventable through limiting exposure to UV radiation in sunlight.
“Schools are an appropriate venue for sun protection programmes, as learning sun protective behaviour at school may lead to protective behaviour outside school also.”
Nina Goad, from the association, said: “It is thought that just a couple of cases of sunburn as a child could as much as double your chance of getting skin cancer later in life. That’s why we are working hard to promote sun safety information to schools, with leaflets and posters.”
Middleton Primary in Wollaton Park has already introduced French Legionnaire-style hats which can be bought through the Parent Teacher Assocation and come complete with neck covers. It has also introduced a second hat in a different style in response to pupil demand.
Some older pupils have spent this week looking at the dangers of the sun as part of a safety project.
Headteacher Rebecca Plaskitt said sun awareness was important for pupils.
“We cover it all as part of healthy lifestyle work that we do,” she said.
“Our children are outside a lot. We do have a lot of trees and the orchard at the back, and an outside classroom made of wood which provides shade.
“The children are also encouraged, on sunny days, to bring sun cream with them and apply it before break-time and lunchtime.”
A spokeswoman for Notts County Council said: “Sun protection policies in schools are not implemented by the council but by individual schools.”
Colt Simpson, eight, said: “We’ve been learning about the danger of looking directly at the sun as it can really damage your eyes.”
Alex Chamberlain, eight, said: “If you don’t wear a hat, you might get sunstroke. You should wear sunglasses, sun cream and a hat.” alistair.harris@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk
We all know how important sun safety is, and especially for kids. With summer here and getting hotter, we can pratice some everyday sun protection guidelines. Here are some summer safety tips to go by as you spend your days in the sun and heat: http://www.reallifesolutions.net/family/sun_safety.htm
Weatherproof and Shade Umbrellas: High End and Huge
By: Margueritte Ramos
Looking for an umbrella that will last? Our stunning umbrellas are like none other to provide shade and rain protection. These hip and high end umbrellas will woo you and your guests at day or night. The PVC fabric bounces light off so it takes very little lighting to create romantic lighting. ! This Asian product uses PVC fabric, the same very high quality fabric you see on commercial shade structures installed in major metropolitan airports. These umbrellas (Skybrellas) have installed uplighting that creates a night time ambiance not found elsewhere. You can see pictures of Skybrellas at night www.shadefla.com .
A sprinkle of rain? No problem the size, the shape and the fabric are designed to be a weatherproof cover. Previously restaurants had to close down their outdoor setting after a little rain, with Skybrellas there is no need to worry. The smallest Skybella is 13 ft by 13ft. and the largest is 18.9ft x 15.3 ftx in a hexagon shape.
Worried about winds? Close the Skybrealla after 50MPH winds. Architectural and engineering ingenuity have developed a particularly effortless means of retracting once wind loads become excess. The large crank makes it easy to open and close. No need to worry about pinching the skin of your fingers the crank takes care of that.
The Skybrellas are ideal for entertainment areas around pools, gardens, courtyards, public spaces, cafes and restaurants. Use them wherever you need a beautiful shade cover. These are solid steel constructed structures that are guaranteed for 10 years! They are made w/ steel stanchions, aluminium castings and stainless steel cabling system.
Cleanliness, the PVC fabric washes itself with each rainfall! Yearly the inside can we wiped with a soft cloth and soap and water.
Skybrellas are installed by attaching to a four inch concrete slab, very easy! For instructions visit www.shadefla.com
By Rosemary Ford , Staff Writer
Eagle-Tribune
When Shonda Schilling wants to keep her kids out of the sun during the hottest part of the day, she’s got a tried and true method: take them to the movies.
So when it came to devising a program to keep local children safe from the sun’s most damaging rays, she knew what she wanted to do: send families to the movies - for free.
“I have a love of movies,” said Shonda Schilling, wife of Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and a skin cancer survivor. “I wanted it to be a program everybody could benefit from. It’s also a way to get people talking about alternatives. We have little things we need to do during the day. It’s a way to get parents to switch, kids to go swimming later on.”
Schilling and her Arizona-based SHADE Foundation teamed up with movie theaters owned by National Amusements for the program “SPF - Sun Protection Flicks.”
For the next eight Mondays, Showcase Cinemas - including Lawrence, Lowell and Woburn - will be showing a variety of children’s films for free beginning at 11 a.m.
“Our goal is to make our theater a community entertainment destination,” said Wanda Whitson, a spokeswoman for National Amusements. We like to do programs that help children - we have our bookworm Wednesdays program, where kids do a book report and get into a movie for free. We love children and this was a way to help them in a variety of ways, as well as opportunity to help Curt and Shonda Schilling.”
Schilling, who successfully battled Stage 2 melanoma, founded the SHADE Foundation to educate the public about the dangers of the sun.
“I had a form of the cancer that kills people,” Schilling said. “You tend to be shaken when it happens to you. People die from skin cancer.”
One in five children will develop skin cancer as an adult, according to SHADE.
To keep her kids out of the sun, Schilling shifts the time of her family’s activities. For example, grocery shopping, watching movies or other indoor activities take place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun’s rays are strongest. She encourages her children to play outside either earlier or later in the day.
“Kids are not born with marks on their skin - the damage is done as a child, when we receive our first (sunburns),” said Schilling. “We are trying to teach kids to take care of their skin - it’s the biggest organ of body that protects everything on the inside.”
Through the free movie program this summer, the theaters will show films, including “Rugrats in Paris: The Movie” and “Madagascar.” Whitson said the theater chain selected the films because they were recent, popular movies that appeal to a broad range of ages.
“The main aspect is to help kids entertain themselves, to raise their awareness about the dangers of the sun and to provide them with a nice, fun way to protect themselves,” said Whitson.
In addition to offering free movies, National Amusements will offer 44-ounce Curt Schilling collectors cups at all screenings this summer to raise money for SHADE, which is trying to erect sun shades at local playgrounds for children.
“The shade covers the playgrounds; the material is very tight, the sun can’t penetrate it,” said Schilling. “It’s a reminder (to kids and parents) we need protection. It’s safe to be under the shade.”
Participating theaters include:
* Showcase Cinemas Lawrence, 7-14
6 Chickering St., Lawrence, 978-686-2121
* Showcase Cinemas Lowell
32 Reiss Ave., Lowell, 978-551-0055
* Showcase Cinemas Woburn
25 Middlesex Canal Park, Woburn, 781-933-5330
SPF schedule
* June 25: “Rugrats in Paris: The Movie”
* July 2: “Madagascar”
* July 9: “Shark Tale”
* July 16: “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”
* July 23: “Rugrats Movie”
* July 30: “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie”
* Aug. 6: “The Wild Thornberrys Movie”
* Aug. 13: “Yours, Mine and Ours”
For more about the free movie series, check out www.nationalamusements.com. For more about the SHADE Foundation and its efforts to promote responsible sun behavior, see www.shadefoundation.org.
Doral Park
Doral Park
Pre-construction video of covered walkways at Doral Park. Miami, FL
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