A sun safety policy is important to protect children, youth and sport/recreation leaders from the potential dangers of too much sun exposure. The evidence shows that policy and education programs in recreation settings can change sun safety behaviour – particularly “covering up” behaviour.

We know that children and youth spend a significant amount of time outdoors. In a survey conducted in 2006, more than 50% of the children surveyed spent at least 2 hours in the sun on a typical summer day (National Sun Survey Highlights Report July 2008). In that same survey, 20% of the children aged 6-12 years had experienced at least one sunburn during the summer prior to the survey.
Working with the Capital District Health Authority, Cancer Prevention Committee, Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and Town of Windsor Recreation Programs, Sun Safe Nova Scotia developed Summer Sun Safety – A How To Guide for Recreation and Sport Programs. This guide presents the rationale for sun safety policy in the recreation and sport setting, shares the story of policy development from HRM and Town of Windsor and provides sample policies and tools to help program directors and leaders develop and implement an appropriate policy for their program.

A number of supports have also been developed to assist organizations and agencies with this effort including:

Promotion and Awareness Tools

• Sample letter to parents/guardians
• Evaluation tool 
• Sample signage and tattoo designs (Click here to view all 3 samples)   
  - Sample 1 - 'do not enter without sun protection'
  - Sample 2 - 'stop sunburn'
  - Sample 3 - 'warning: sunburn ahead-sunscreen is advised              
• Sun Safety activities

Training Tools

• Sun safety training facilitator notes
• Sun safety training presentation
  
  Fact Sheets
• About Sunscreen
• Children and Sun Safety
• Prevention Skin Cancer
• Shade
• Sun Sense Guidelines

Environmental Supports

• Shade Audit Guide (doc)

Skin cancer is the most preventable form of cancer and is linked to sun exposure in youth. As staff and participants often spend time outdoors during recreation programming, this presents an important opportunity for local Recreation Departments or Sport Organizations to work with staff, parents and participants to protect their future health by educating them about protecting their skin and adopting sun safe behaviours while outdoors. Some of the tools found below may assist in policy development for your recreation or community group.


Certificate for Sport
Certificate for Recreation
Policy template2    ‹En français›
Policy template1     ‹En français›
Summer policy and procedure manual for staff2    ‹En français›
Summer policy and procedure manual for staff1     ‹En français›
Suggestion for an insert in your summer brochure  ‹En français›
Sun safety checklist for parents     ‹En français›
Sun safety program checklist     ‹En français›
Sun safe practices children survey     ‹En français›
Sun safe practices adult survey     ‹En français›
Sun safety program components     ‹En français›