Pediatric Sun Protection Foundation Inc

THE PROGRAM'S PURPOSE IS TO PREVENT FUTURE SKIN CANCER BY CHANGING BEHAVIOR IN THE WAY CHILDREN PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE SUN'S HARMFUL UV RAYS. CHILDHOOD EXPOSURE TO HIGH LEVELS OF SUNLIGHT IS A STRONG DETERMINANT OF MELANOMA RISK. PEDIATRIC CLINICANS CAN PROVIDE IMPORTANT SUN PROTECTION COUNSELING AS OUR RESEARDH SHOWS THAT PARENTS LISTEN TO PEDIATRICIANS. WHILE REGULAR SUN USE PREVENTS MELANOMA DEVELOPMENT IN ADULTS AS WELLAS IN CHILDREN, RELIANCE ON SUNCCREEN AS THE ONLY FORM OF SUN PROTECTION IS PROBLEMATIC. CAREGIVERS USE LOTION WHICH CHILDREN BALK AT HAVING APPLIED, OR SPRAYS WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TOO THINLY. THE COST OF SUNSCREEN, ESPECIALLY IN THE SETTING OF DAILY USE AND RE-APPLICATION AFTER SWIMMING, CAN BE EXPENSIVE AND UNMANAGEABLE FOR FAMILIES OF LOWER SOCIAL ECONOMIC STATUS. UNLIKE T-SHIRTS, SUN SHIELDS PROVIDE PROTECTION WHEN WET, AND A CHILD CAN PUT IT ON, THUS, PROVIDING CONSISTENT PROTECTION IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE SUN SHIELD. THERE ARE NO COMPLIANCE ISSUES WITH SUN SHIELDS. THE RESEARCH COMPONENT TO LAUNCH THE PILOT PROGRAM WAS COMPLETED IN 2013. DR. ROBINSON AND PEDSPF WILL USE THE RESEARCH RESULTS TO APPLY FOR A GRANT TO SEEK FUNDING TO GROW THE PROGRAM. PEDSPF'S ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GROW THE PILOT PROGRAM INTO A NATIONAL PROGRAM OVER THE NEXT DECADE AND TO TRULY CHANGE BEHAVIOR IN HOW CHILDREN PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE SUN'S HARMFUL UV RAYS. THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS RAISED BY PEDSPF WILL HELP PAY FOR THE SUN SHIELDS AS WELL AS THE CLINICAL RESEARCH. THE PILOT PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO OBTAIN RESEARCH IN 2015 AND THEREAFTER SPECIFICALLY, THE RESEARCH WILL EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF PEDIATRICIANS DELIVERING SUN PROTECTION.