By now I’m sure that everyone knows that skin cancer and sun exposure is for real and a major problem in our modern world. Still, some people don’t pay heed to warnings and shrug at taking simple precautions. The only way those things are going to change is to effect a culture change through teaching healthier protective ways to our young people.
One of the most important things to remember when trying to teach young people about serious subjects, is that you have to make it a little fun in order to keep their attention. Kids aren’t going to listen to Steven Hawking drone on about science, but they do listen to Mr. Wizard. With that in mind I’d like to talk about a great product that’s really surged in popularity this summer, the UV bracelet.
UV bracelets are made with beads that change color when they come into contact with the sun’s UV rays. These bracelets are not made to prevent skin cancer, keep you from getting sunburned, or help you tan safely, instead they are used as an awareness tool. By changing color in the sun, the beads let you know all the different situations when your skin is being exposed to UV rays. This does not mean just the obvious ones like when your standing out at the beach in direct sunlight. I think its most effective in showing you the ones people don’t think about, such as while sitting in your car.
The East Valley Tribune out of Phoenix, AZ had a great article entitled “Cancer Survivor Hopes Jewelry Will Warn Others”, in which they talk about one woman who’s taken up the cause of UV jewelry. This woman hopes that the bracelets can help others more easily learn the lesson that she learned the hard way.
I think these bracelets will be especially effective in raising awareness in children because they make it fun. Kids love things that change colors. I remember when I was a child being fascinated by glow in the dark stuff. Now with these bracelets you can let the kids know that anytime the beads change colors that means they should be protecting their skin in some manner. The transformation is like magic and gets to happen right before their very eyes.
If kids can start to learn how important it is to wear sunscreen all the time, eventually it will become a habit. Then habits are much easier to pass on then learning brand new ways of behavior.
I think UV bracelets are a fantastic idea. There are even places where you can buy just the beads and make the bracelets yourself with your children. I’m hopeful that this can be a nice tool in our efforts to raise awareness amongst our young people, and eventually carry that on to everyone.
Leave a comment