Program Aims to Deliver UPF Rated Clothing to Newborns and Act as a Springboard for Continued Skin Health and Lifelong Preventative Maintenance
IMPACT Melanoma, a non-profit aimed at providing education, prevention, and support for the most serious form of skin cancer, is collaborating with hospitals around the country to launch their No Sun for Babies program throughout the month of May. The program will offer a backpack containing UPF rated clothing and preventative skin care awareness to last a lifetime. These backpacks will be given to new parents leaving the hospital with their newborn. In response, Northside Hospital Cancer Institute has jumped onboard to help provide support for this imperative initiative.
“Frequent sunburns are an important risk factor for melanoma,” said Dr. Nicole Kounalakis, medical director of Northside Hospital Cancer Institute’s Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program. “This gift educates and provides parents with the necessary tools to enjoy the outdoors safely with their new babies. When sun safety skills are taught at an early age, children have a decreased risk of developing skin cancer in their adult years. We hope this package reminds the entire family to protect their skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays while playing outdoors this summer!”
“It’s important to have children be outdoors, especially when the weather is nice,” said IMPACT ambassador Sophie J Balk MD. “We do, however, need to pay special attention to protecting babies and young children from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet light (UV) rays when they are outside. A baby’s skin is more delicate and thinner than the skin of older children and adults, so babies can sunburn more easily. Even dark-skinned babies may sunburn. Babies and young children must rely on adults to remove them from situations that could lead to sunburn and even heatstroke. Babies and young children also need a parent or other adult to keep them away from the sun’s direct rays, to make sure they are dressed properly and to apply sunscreen.”
Dr. Balk’s words are a part of the impetus leading to IMPACT launching the No Sun for Babies program to do their part to help out and create a new avenue for awareness.
“We’re so pleased to be offering this program with our friends at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute. The opportunity to teach new parents about having a healthy relationship with the sun is our goal.This is the first step in developing a sun safe lifestyle for new families that we hope will last a lifetime reducing the risk of skin cancer and melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease,” said Deb Girard, Executive Director, IMPACT Melanoma. “It’s imperative that we team together whenever we can to create a sun-safe future for everyone on the planet. That starts with educated and effective sun protective practices, and together we can all make a great, positive impact on just that.”
About IMPACT Melanoma
IMPACT is a national non-profit organization dedicated to working to reduce the incidence of melanoma. Committed to skin cancer prevention and early detection, we provide a variety of award-winning programs which aim to raise awareness and educate the public about skin cancer, as well as support services for those struggling with the disease.
To get involved visit: IMPACTmelanoma.org, call 1-800-557-6352, or email [email protected].
Learn more about Northside's Melanoma & Skin Cancer Program.
