Never Let Your Child Get Sunburnt: Did the messages get through? In Fact

In 2007/08, the Health Sponsorship Council (HSC) launched the Never Let Your Child Get Sunburnt campaign. The campaign targeted parents and caregivers and explained the link between sunburn and melanoma, with the overall aim of reducing sunburn among children. In March 2010, the HSC evaluated the effectiveness of its three-year campaign for New Zealand adults. A key measure was of awareness of the campaign and its messages.

This fact sheet covers the results on the impact of the campaign.

Skin cancers are the most common form of cancer in New Zealand. Every year more than 60,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer. Out of this number over 2,000 people are diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer, the most serious type. Approximately 300 people die from melanoma skin cancer each year. The good news is that skin cancer is largely preventable. The best ways people can reduce their risk of developing skin cancer include protecting the skin from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from either the sun or sunbeds and by never getting sunburnt, especially under the age of 20 years.