The Minister for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy Hildegarde Naughton TD has today announced the winners of the second annual Get SunSmart! Children’s Art Competition.
The nationwide competition for primary school children is a Healthy Ireland initiative in collaboration with the Health Service Executive’s National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) and is designed to educate young people about the importance of protecting their skin from sun exposure.
Entrants were invited to submit artworks that illustrate the SunSmart behaviours which help protect people from the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
More than 1,000 entries were received across the three age categories. Following shortlisting by a panel, the overall winners were chosen by top artist, illustrator and writer Kathi Burke.
The winners are:
Junior infants – 1st class: Caoimhe Brett, Thurles, Co. Tipperary
2nd – 4th class: Anna Sturgeon, Athlone, Co Roscommon
5th-6th class: Mia Muldarry, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
Minister Naughton said:
“I want to congratulate Caoimhe, Anna and Mia for their fantastic artworks and to all our category winners. They’ve shown wonderful creativity and imagination while highlighting the very important message of skin safety in the sun.
“I also want to thank our judge Kathi Burke for her work as I know that choosing the winners was no easy task.
“Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Ireland, but it is preventable.
“Reducing the incidences of skin cancer is the focus of the new National Skin Cancer Prevention Plan and the Get SunSmart! Competition is one of the many innovative ways in which we’re increasing awareness about skin protective behaviours.
“Spending time outdoors is good for us, but as we head into school holidays and hopefully sunny weather, I want to remind everyone to be SunSmart by following the 5Ss.”
The SunSmart 5 Ss are:
- Slip on clothing that covers your skin such as wearing long sleeves, collared t-shirts;
- Slop on broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) water resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30+ for adults and 50+ for children, with high UVA protection. Reapply regularly;
- Slap on a hat with a wide brim: Protect your face, ears and neck.
- Seek shade: Sit in cover of trees to avoid direct sunlight and use a sunshade on your buggy or pram. Keep babies and children out of direct sunlight.
- Slide on sunglasses to protect your eyes.
These simple protective behaviours should be practised daily, especially from April to September when the intensity of UV radiation from the sun is greatest, even when it is cloudy.
To view a video of the Get SunSmart! Art competition winning entries, see HERE.