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every child. one voice.
November 8, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of excessive exposure to the sun, particularly among children, the Pleasanton PTA Council is donating sets of Sun Safety Videos to all elementary and middle schools in Pleasanton. “The Sun Show”, provided through the California Department of Health, is geared to students in Grades 1-3 and a more advanced version is being provided for students in Grades 4-6. The videos are formatted as lively children’s newsmagazine shows to engage the interest of students and encourage them to adopt sun safe behaviors.
According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer. More than 90% of all skin cancers are caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun and approximately 50% of a person’s lifetime UV exposure occurs during childhood and adolescence. Solar radiation is most intense between 10 am and 4 pm, the hours when students are outdoors at school during PE, recess and lunch.
Jamie Hintzke, VP of Health for the Pleasanton PTA Council, notes “skin cancer is highly preventable when sun safety behaviors are adopted and we believe that schools are uniquely positioned to provide protection and to teach lifelong sun-safe behaviors”.
Pleasanton PTA Council was able to purchase copies of these videos for each grade level in all of the 9 elementary and 3 middle schools in Pleasanton through a generous grant from the City of Pleasanton’s Human Resources Commission.
Additional copies of the video will be available to the public at the Pleasanton Public Library and will be shown on the local cable TV station Channel 30. Community youth groups including sports associations and scouting groups are welcome to contact the PTA Council to acquire copies of the video for their own use.
For more information, contact Debbie Look, President at 846-3257 or look49@comcast.net.