BBC, Guernsey
BBCSun safety work in Guernsey is “imperative”, according to a charity currently working to raise awareness of early detection and prevention of skin cancer.
Male Uprising Guernsey (MUG) has sponsored suncream at more than 25 locations across the island, including Vale Primary School and The Big Gig.
Staff said they were raising awareness after being approached by Public Health and the Health Care Group to run the initiative.
As well as saying the work was “imperative”, Tony Tostevin, from MUG, said “It’s a major issue that we need to educate the youngsters up through to adults on what they should be looking for and looking out for.”
Suncream ‘makes a difference’
Vale Primary School has benefited from MUG’s latest campaign and is also sun safe accredited by the organisation.
Teacher Juliet Bell, the school’s sun safe ambassador, said the suncream “makes a huge difference.”
She said: “We always think about sun safety whether we are working outside with the children, or on trips, to make sure there is plenty of shade and everyone has water to drink.
As part of the accreditation, the school had a sun hat policy, where students without a hat stay in the shade.
Students are also encouraged to apply suncream before they attend school, and top it up throughout the day.
Pupil Hattie, 9, said: “When UV levels are three or above, we should wear sunscreen and sun hats.”
Ollie, 10, said: “Each class at our school has their own [suncream]… and we put them on at lunch and break.”
Each school follows the States of Guernsey’s Sun Safe Policy, which a spokesperson for the Education Department said was the “bare minimum expectation for all schools”.
Some schools may have their own policy which compliments and build upon the States’ guidelines.
For example, La Mare De Carteret Primary School and St Martins are “compulsory hat” schools and have been for some years.
Meanwhile, more work was being done at secondary school level to ensure students were taking more sun-safe precautions, the charity said.
St Sampson’s High School introduced sun safe monitors to dish out free suncream and sun safety advice at break and lunchtimes.
Lee Thomas, subject lead of personal development at St Sampson’s, said the skin cancer rates in Guernsey were “awful to hear.”
Mr Thomas said the personal development team across all secondary schools came up with a sun safety initiative “using students to talk to students.”
“Everyone in school can see where the free suncream is if they need it,” he said.
Jeorgie, 11, is a sun safety monitor. She said seeing the struggles of someone she knew with cancer inspired her to take on the role.
The Channel Islands Coop also sponsors suncream for school trips and additional bottles for lessons.
Rajesh Amin, superintendent pharmacist from the Co op Pharmacy Guernsey, said: “It’s so, so important, especially on this island, to protect the whole community.”
This story is part of BBC Guernsey’s Sun Safety Campaign.