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Welcome to
the new school year!
To make the most
of the summer weather, New Zealand schools focus on outdoor activities
and water sports as part of the health and physical education curriculum
at the beginning of the academic year. The first Hot Topic of 2003 looks
at how to be sun-smart in the scorching New Zealand sun and how
to stay safe in the pool, in rivers, or in the sea.
The New Zealand
sun
The ferocity of New Zealand sun is well known. New Zealand has one of
the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, and approximately 200 New
Zealanders die from melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, each
year.
One of the reasons for this is New Zealand's proximity to the ozone hole.
Scientists investigating the ozone layer discovered that it had been thinning
over Antarctica. This has become known as the ozone hole. The ozone hole
that forms each spring over Antarctica is triggered by a combination of
chlorine pollutants in the atmosphere, cold winter temperatures, and the
return of sunlight in spring.
The longer the hole remains over Antarctica, the more likely it is
that ozone-depleted air will reach New Zealand when the sun is high
in the sky, increasing the risk of dangerously high levels of ultraviolet
(UV) radiation in New Zealand when people are outdoors enjoying the
summer.
UV radiation is responsible for skin damage and skin cancers.
In addition to the ozone factor, New Zealand is relatively free of
air pollution, which can block UV radiation. This means that we receive more damaging UV radiation than many other countries.
Protecting
ourselves from UV
We can do a number of things to protect ourselves from the damaging
effects of UV:
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stay out of the sun between 11am and 4pm – the
hottest hours of the day;
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wear a wide-brimmed hat when outside;
-
cover up when in the sun (wear long shorts or skirts,
sleeved t-shirts with high necks or collars);
-
wear UV-protective sunglasses;
-
regularly apply an approved sunscreen of SPF 15+ or
higher.
It is important to remember that you can get sunburnt on overcast days,
as well as on sunny ones. UV radiation penetrates the cloud layer that
can stop bright sunlight shining through, so be sun-smart, even when
it doesn't seem like there is any sun around!
Water safety
As an island nation, it is no surprise that New Zealanders love the
water. However, our enthusiasm is often matched with inexperience, lack
of knowledge, and a lack of proper caution when it comes to different
water conditions. These two factors combine to form a grim statistic
– approximately 130 New Zealanders die every year from drowning.
Just like protecting yourself from the sun, following a few simple
rules can keep you safe in the water. Please visit the water safety
links below to find out what rules to observe in the sea, rivers, and
in swimming pools.
Resources
on TKI
Sun safety
BrainPop
– Sun Protection
This animated movie and related quiz are part of the BrainPop website,
and focus on sun protection. The movie introduces students to ultraviolet
rays, the ozone layer and appropriate methods of protecting the skin from
damage. http://www.brainpop.com/health/integumentary/sunprotection/index.weml
Welltown
One of a series of websites from the United Kingdom Department of Health,
this web page features interactive activities about staying safe in the
sun.
http://www.welltown.gov.uk/park/sunsafety.htm
Cancer Society of
New Zealand
This website for the Cancer Society includes information related to cancer
in the areas of nutrition/physical activity, tobacco control, sun protection,
men's health, and women's health. See the section "Cancer Information"
for information about the ozone layer, the effect of ultraviolet (UV)
radiation and how to be "SunSmart."
http://www.cancernz.org.nz
Children's Health Development
Foundation
This Australian website includes information on how to be a sun-smart
school.
http://www.chdf.org.au
Technology/1/4
– E version 1
This assessment material entitled Sun Protection, relates to New Zealand
technology achievement standard 1.4. It involves students providing some
form of sun protection for students.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/tech1_4Ev1_26june01.doc
Mind,
Body, and Soul
Mind, Body, and Soul is a website for people aged 14–16 years, which
provides interactive information on health topics. This is their sun safety
page.
http://www.mindbodysoul.gov.uk/safety/sun.html
NIWA
– National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) is New
Zealand's leading provider of atmospheric and aquatic science. Take a
look at the daily UV monitor.
http://www.niwa.cri.nz/services/uvozone
Water safety
Water Safety
New Zealand
This website promotes water safety and the prevention of drowning in New
Zealand. It includes research findings, a directory of member organisations,
brochures, booklets and posters about aquatic activities and related water
safety issues, and a video and book catalogue available to schools and
other groups involved in water safety training
www.watersafety.org.nz
ACC BoatSafe
This website is developed by Water Safety New Zealand and ACC. It is a
component of the ACC Boatsafe programme aimed at reducing the number of
water related accidents in boats. It includes information and guidelines
on preparation, operation, and safety in boats, sets of questions, and
links to other safety programmes.
http://www.boatsafe.org.nz
ACC PoolSafe
A website from the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), PoolSafe is
aimed at reducing water related accidents in and around New Zealand pools.
http://www.poolsafe.org.nz
ACC RiverSafe
RiverSafe includes guidelines for safe practice in river related activities,
activity sheets for students, links to other resources, and information
on an education programme aimed at secondary teachers and students.
http://www.riversafe.org.nz
Children'
s Hospital of Pittsburgh: Water Safety Quiz
This section of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh website contains
an interactive quiz about general water safety.
http://www.chp.edu/besafe/fungame/watersafety.swf
Surf lifesaving
Read about the Surf Lifesaving New Zealand beach education programme.
http://www.slsnz.org.nz
Surf
Safe Summer
This website contains a series of videos about water safety, designed
to educate people about key beach safety issues. The videos cover topics
such as rips, swimming between the flags and surf safety tips for caregivers.
http://www.surfsafesummer.com.au
Coastguard Boating
Education Service
This website describes courses run by the New Zealand Coastguard Federation
which may be of assistance to teachers who are running sailing and other
water based outdoor education activities.
http://www.cbes.org.nz
Yachting New Zealand
The Yachting New Zealand website provides information on school programmes
including "SailSafe" and "Waterwise" for primary and intermediate schools,
and "Sailability" which provides physically disabled people with the opportunity
to go sailing.
http://www.yachtingnz.org.nz
Swimming
Assessing
Student Swimming and Aquatic Skills
This Ministry of Education report presents research into teachers' perceptions
of the swimming and aquatic skills of Year 6 students.
http://www.minedu.govt.nz/index.cfm?layout=document&documentid=7913&data=l
PhysEd/3/4
– B version 1
This assessment material entitled Sports on Stage – Swimming – 200m Medley,
relates to New Zealand physical education achievement standards 3.4. It
involves students completing a timed 200m four stroke medley in a 25 or
50 metre pool under race conditions following a programme of teaching
and learning the appropriate skills.
http://www.tki.org.nz/r/ncea/physed3_4Bv1_10feb02.doc
Please note: These links were valid
when this page was posted. However the Web is very volatile, and TKI has
no control over outside websites. Please let us know if you find anything
inappropriate, if you find a broken link, or if you have an update for
a link by emailing links@tki.org.nz.
Te Kete Ipurangi recommends that teachers view all websites we link to
before using them with students.
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