THE CARE IN THE SUN CAMPAIGN

Work first began in 1990 in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board in response to the “Europe Against Cancer” initiative. The campaign aimed to raise awareness about the dangers of over exposure to the sun and the signs and symptoms of malignant melanoma.

As a result of this initial work the campaign was extended to cover all of Northern Ireland and a Regional Care in the Sun Group was established with membership from:
Public Health Medicine.
Health Promotion from the four Health and Social Services Boards.
Ulster Cancer Foundation.

Media
Travel Industry
Meteorologists
Ulster Cancer Foundation
General Practioners
Dermatologists
Public Health

Over the next six years the Regional care in the sun group worked to promote the Care in the Sun Campaign across Northern Ireland. A wide range of initiatives were used to drive forward the campaign, including:

Development of new information materials – leaflets and posters.

Distribution of information materials at Banks, Travel Agents, Health Centres, the Passport Office, Ferry Terminals and Airports.

Advertising on the sides of buses and Adshel Advertising.

Campaign on the move

The Met Office was approached to highlight the Care in the Sun message on the summer weather broadcast – a UK first.

Pharmacists were encouraged to be involved in spreading the message via shop window displays and distribution of information.

Professional development seminars and lectures were provided for primary care professionals.

Children were identified as a priority target group for this campaign. Competitions were organised for schools around the Care in the Sun theme and a number of extremely high quality initiatives were started at this point:

Percy Piglet story-book (early years resource) download here	Get Sunwise, Cool for Cats (Comic based education pack for Key Stage 2) (Jointly produced by UCF/HPANI)

Both of these resources were evaluated and shown to be of excellent quality and effective in their aim of increasing children’s knowledge in Care in the Sun.

Regional primary and post primary school competitions designed to highlight the issue with schools and educate children were run by UCF.

The Misadventures of Percy Piglet Puppet Show went on tour visiting primary schools in the Eastern and Southern Board areas. This initative was the Northern Ireland winner of the NHS 50th anniversary - NHS/ Glaxwelcome partnership awards.

		A day at the seaside taking care in the sun!
Winners of the 'Get Sunwise Competition' for primary schools.

Percy Piglet	Dora Duck