Registration | Log In

Search Grants | Fulfilled Grants | More About Find It, Fund It, Florida

Share

Please share this page to help in fulfilling this grant.

Project Goal

Securing a Sun Cover Canopy for our outdoor court. Prevent our children from heat exhaustion and over-exposure during PE and recess.
 

 

How Project Benefits Students

Florida has so many benefits. The average temperature in the Tampa area is 82.5 degrees with a range of 19-110+ degrees. It also has an average of 246 days of sunshine according to United States Climate Data. That fact is very good news when considering tourism as a main industry for the state. However, there is another factor to consider when raving about the weather and that’s the potential harmful effect that the ultraviolet (UV) from the sun has upon the skin and causing skin cancer.
The incidence of melanoma, the most dangerous of the skin cancers, sharply increases with age from 1.1 per million in 1- to 4-year-olds to 10.4 per million in 15- to 19-year-olds. Since the 1970s, the incidence of pediatric melanoma, has increased with an average annual percent change of 2–2.9%. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified UV exposure as a class I carcinogen that is associated with a higher incidence of melanoma, especially in children with a higher exposure to sunlight and/or tanning beds.11 We also now know, children who have been treated for melanoma are at an increased risk of recurrence later in life. (Pediatric melanoma: incidence, treatment, and prognosis authored by: Faiez K Saiyed,1 Emma C Hamilton,1 and Mary T Austin)

The American Cancer Society, The American Academy of Dermatology, The Melanoma Research Foundation, the Skin Cancer Foundation as well as the American Academy of Pediatricians all recommend “prevention strategies” but as described below, it is a difficult task to comply for elementary children.
The strategies:
Avoid midday exposure (10 am to 4pm) – normal school hours for elementary children.

Minimize direct as well as reflective exposure: To protect against the sun overhead, seek shade as much as possible, whether from a tree, umbrella, or shelter. Be extra careful around water and sand. Most school yards do NOT have shade, trees or umbrellas or specific shelters to play under.

Length of exposure: Damage from harmful rays can occur in as little as 15 minutes of exposure but the longer you are out, the greater the exposure. Gymnastics, recess or after school programs all include a longer exposure time,

Clothing Recommendations: a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and dark colors of clothing with tightly woven fibers to block the sun rays rather than white or loosely woven fabrics. Wearing this type of clothing would greatly increase the body’s core temperature and may possibly lead to dehydration. Special sun protective materials for clothing are available but they are very costly for families. Our Title 1 families cannot afford these extra items added to their budgets.

Head covering: Darker colored, wide-brimmed hats, made of tightly woven fabric like cloth are excellent for covering the face, nose, ears, and neck. Wearing hats while running, jumping is difficult but elementary students do but they will need great deal of encouragement to promote usage. A covering of cloth of entire face is not a realistic expectation and will possibly lead to dehydration.

Sunglasses: sunglasses provide good protection since they prevent UV rays which are harmful to eyes but with young elementary students, this is not likely to occur.

Sunscreen: By reflecting, scattering, or absorbing UV rays, sunscreens are a valuable tool in protecting the skin. Choose a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation. Make sure it is water resistant and has an SPF of 50 or higher. Parents may apply sunscreen at home but it suggests reapplication approximately every 2 hours to maintain effectiveness, which may be extremely difficult and unrealistic for an entire classroom.

One of the best solutions from a practical perspective, is to secure universal coverage for elementary school children. As “fun” as it might seem to sunscreen 429 children a day, or remind each one to bring hats and sunglasses to PE (and we do enjoy a challenge, but we’re being realistic) a large sun tarp to prevent exposure to the harmful rays during recess, outdoor play and after school activities is really the best solution for this continuing problem.
 

 

Expected Outcome(s)

We expect the outcome to be increased PE moderate-to-high activity levels, more student involvement in recess and a decrease in heat stroke episodes at the school nurse’s office.
We’d ideally like to see less sunburns and less dehydration in our children. Less time spent with these issues, and other symptoms like nausea, heat cramps, headaches and shortness of breath means more time spent in the classroom educating and less time recuperating.

This need would help us teach and address these standards:
SC.4.E.6.3:
Recognize that humans need resources found on Earth and that these are either renewable or nonrenewable.
SC.4.E.6.6:
Identify resources available in Florida (water, phosphate, oil, limestone, silicon, wind, and solar energy). 

 

Detailed Cost Summary

This is our YEAR! We have been chosen to receive a sun-shade by the district and we only need to fund $10,000 ourselves! Our other fundraisers and our PTA will bridge the gap and we only have $2,000 left. We already have our install date! Please help us clear this final chunk of cash to make our dream a reality this year!  

 

Items