Sun Protection for Children

to the editor: We recently reported the results of a community-based intervention that increased the sun protection of children.¹ The intervention involved schools and day care centers, primary care practices and recreation areas. Outcomes of the intervention were determined by observing actual sun protection of children at the beach. At baseline in intervention towns, 53 percent of the children were fully protected from the sun by clothing, sunscreen or shade. At follow-up, this proportion increased to 74 percent while the rates in control towns did not change substantially between baseline and follow-up.

The school program and the primary care office intervention have been described elsewhere.^2,3 In addition, intervention materials relevant to schools through grade 4, day care centers and primary care offices are now available at the following Web site: http://nccc.hitchcock.org/sunsafe.htm.