Sun Smart

Guest Blogger: UNR Medical Student II, Anita Savell

Three northern Nevada nonprofits received free automatic sunscreen dispensers and a supply of sunscreen through a community donation program launched by Nevada Cancer Coalition (NCC). The organizations selected through an application process include Community Health Alliance Record Street Health Center for the Homeless, Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation (TMPF), and Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Nevada Cancer Coalition is recognizing Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month by awarding five automatic sunscreen dispensers to nonprofits in Nevada. The dispensers are a key component of the coalition’s Sun Smart Nevada program, which promotes skin cancer prevention through sun safety education and access to sunscreen. Applications for the dispenser program will be accepted through May 11.

It’s once again Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, recognized May 1 – 31 each year. Bookended by Melanoma Monday, this year May 7, and Don’t Fry Day, the Friday before Memorial Day on May 25, the month encourages sun safe behaviors and skin cancer prevention.

Skin cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. with more annual diagnoses than breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancers combined. Cases of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, are also on the rise. This year in Nevada it’s estimated 790 people will be diagnosed with melanoma.

We've thrown our wide-brimmed hat into the ring for the Gannett Foundation's 'A Community Thrives' program for a chance to win a $25,000 fan favorite grant. The program will also award up to $500,000 in additional grants to eligible organizations. NCC has chosen Sun Smart Schools as our featured program for the funding opportunity, working to secure funding to expand the program into the Elko County schools. 

Sun Smart Schools, NCC's signature skin cancer prevention program for Nevada's students, kicked off its second year of programming in the 2016-17 school year by expanding from seven pilot schools to 22 participating schools. Students in pre-K through 12th grade in public, private, and parochial schools all participated in the program with the support of teachers, nurses, and school and district administration. 

Some of the past year's successes include:

Students at Lucille S. Rogers Elementary School will be made in the shade on the school’s playground with the recent donation of seven shade trees, plus an additional $3,000 to purchase more. The donations were provided as part of the school’s involvement with the Sun Smart Schools program, a statewide sun safety and skin cancer prevention program for students in pre-K through 12^th grade. The trees will be dedicated at a school assembly Thursday, May 11 at 10:55 a.m.

Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month kicks off May 1 with Melanoma Monday, and continues throughout the month to encourage sun safety and skin cancer prevention.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the number of Americans who have had skin cancer at some point in the last three decades is estimated to be higher than the number for all other cancers combined. And melanoma has become one of the most common cancers among the nation’s adolescents and young adults.

As we near the end of 2016 we're taking a look back at Sun Smart Schools, from the start of our pilot program in 2015 to now. Check out our recent report on the success of Sun Smart Schools.

The Douglas County School District (DCSD) and the Nevada Cancer Coalition (NCC) kick off Sun Smart Schools district-wide with an assembly at Gardnerville Elementary School Thursday, Oct. 20 at 2:15 p.m. Sun Smart Schools is a sun safety education program of NCC that includes nationally-recognized, standards-based curriculum, policy initiatives, and sunscreen.