Slip-Slop-Slap
Encyclopedia
Slip-Slop-Slap and wrap is the iconic and internationally recognised sun protection campaign prominent in Australia during the 1980s. Launched by Cancer Council Victoria
in 1980, the Slip! Slop! Slap! campaign features a singing, dancing Sid Seagull encouraging people to reduce sun exposure and protect themselves against an increased risk of skin cancer
. Sid had Australians slipping on long sleeved clogthing, sloping on sunscreen and slapping on a hat. This successful program was funded by public donations.
The health campaign was extended in later years by the SunSmart to encourage the use of sunglasses
and shade. That is, slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade, slide on some sunnies: "Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide". By this stage, however, the skin cancer aware message of the campaign had successfully been absorbed into the Australian psyche.
Slip, Slop, Slap was also used in New Zealand
, where the mascot is a lobster, voiced by Ants from What Now
. Some Canadian cities have also started their own Slip-Slop-Slap campaigns.
It was used by the BBC on the "BBC Breakfast Programe 27/06/2011 with Bill Turnbull and Sian Williams.
, the incidence of the two most common forms of skin cancer (basal-cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma
) in Australia has decreased. However, the incidence of melanoma
- the most lethal form of skin cancer - has increased. An epidimological study published in 2002 concluded that skin cancer increases could not be associated with the use of sun creams, and recommended continued use of the current campaigns as a means to reduce melanoma risk
The experience of more than 25 years of skin cancer prevention in Australia shows broad-based multifaceted public education programs can have an impact on improving a population’s sun protective behaviors and reducing sunburn, a short-term marker of skin cancer risk. Furthermore, declining skin cancer incidence in younger cohorts and economic assessment show skin cancer prevention programs are an eminently worthwhile investment.
The sun’s UV radiation is both a major cause of skin cancer and the best natural source of vitamin D. The risk of skin cancer from too much sun exposure needs to be balanced with maintaining adequate vitamin D levels. Vitamin D
deficiency has also greatly increased, since sunblock also prevents vitamin D production in the skin. Although sunscreens could almost entirely block the solar induced production of cutaneous previtamin D3 on theoretical grounds or if administered under strictly controlled conditions, in practice they have not been shown to do so. This is mainly due to inadequacies in their application to the skin and because people using sunscreens may also expose themselves to more sun than nonsunscreen users.
Doctors recommend spending small amounts of time in the sun without sun protection when the UV Index
is below three to ensure adequate production of vitamin D. Sun exposure to help with vitamin D is recommended when UV levels are below three.
When the UV index
is greater than 3 (which occurs daily within the tropics
and daily during the spring and summer seasons in temperate regions) adequate amounts of vitamin D3 can be made in the skin after only ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure at least two times per week to the face, arms, hands, or back without sunscreen. With longer exposure to UVB rays, an equilibrium is achieved in the skin, and the vitamin simply degrades as fast as it is generated. A study published in 2009 examined the interaction between Vitamin D from dietary and other sources in a cohort of 68,611 men and women did not demonstrate a comprehensive link between Vitamin D deficiency and melanoma risk
Cancer Council Victoria
Cancer Council Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to reduce the impact of cancer in Victoria. It is an independent body that advises various groups, including government, on cancer-related issues....
in 1980, the Slip! Slop! Slap! campaign features a singing, dancing Sid Seagull encouraging people to reduce sun exposure and protect themselves against an increased risk of skin cancer
Skin cancer
Skin neoplasms are skin growths with differing causes and varying degrees of malignancy. The three most common malignant skin cancers are basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma, each of which is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises...
. Sid had Australians slipping on long sleeved clogthing, sloping on sunscreen and slapping on a hat. This successful program was funded by public donations.
The health campaign was extended in later years by the SunSmart to encourage the use of sunglasses
Sunglasses
Sunglasses or sun glasses are a form of protective eyewear designed primarily to prevent bright sunlight and high-energy visible light from damaging or discomforting the eyes. They can sometimes also function as a visual aid, as variously termed spectacles or glasses exist, featuring lenses that...
and shade. That is, slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade, slide on some sunnies: "Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide". By this stage, however, the skin cancer aware message of the campaign had successfully been absorbed into the Australian psyche.
Slip, Slop, Slap was also used in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, where the mascot is a lobster, voiced by Ants from What Now
What Now
What Now is a long running New Zealand children's television program that premiered in 1981. It is filmed before a live studio audience at Whitebait Productions in Christchurch....
. Some Canadian cities have also started their own Slip-Slop-Slap campaigns.
It was used by the BBC on the "BBC Breakfast Programe 27/06/2011 with Bill Turnbull and Sian Williams.
Effect on cancer rates
Since this campaign was introduced along with advertisements and a jingleJingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
, the incidence of the two most common forms of skin cancer (basal-cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma , occasionally rendered as "squamous-cell carcinoma", is a histologically distinct form of cancer. It arises from the uncontrolled multiplication of malignant cells deriving from epithelium, or showing particular cytological or tissue architectural characteristics of...
) in Australia has decreased. However, the incidence of melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
- the most lethal form of skin cancer - has increased. An epidimological study published in 2002 concluded that skin cancer increases could not be associated with the use of sun creams, and recommended continued use of the current campaigns as a means to reduce melanoma risk
The experience of more than 25 years of skin cancer prevention in Australia shows broad-based multifaceted public education programs can have an impact on improving a population’s sun protective behaviors and reducing sunburn, a short-term marker of skin cancer risk. Furthermore, declining skin cancer incidence in younger cohorts and economic assessment show skin cancer prevention programs are an eminently worthwhile investment.
The sun’s UV radiation is both a major cause of skin cancer and the best natural source of vitamin D. The risk of skin cancer from too much sun exposure needs to be balanced with maintaining adequate vitamin D levels. Vitamin D
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a group of fat-soluble secosteroids. In humans, vitamin D is unique both because it functions as a prohormone and because the body can synthesize it when sun exposure is adequate ....
deficiency has also greatly increased, since sunblock also prevents vitamin D production in the skin. Although sunscreens could almost entirely block the solar induced production of cutaneous previtamin D3 on theoretical grounds or if administered under strictly controlled conditions, in practice they have not been shown to do so. This is mainly due to inadequacies in their application to the skin and because people using sunscreens may also expose themselves to more sun than nonsunscreen users.
Doctors recommend spending small amounts of time in the sun without sun protection when the UV Index
UV index
The ultraviolet index or UV Index is an international standard measurement of the strength of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun at a particular place on a particular day...
is below three to ensure adequate production of vitamin D. Sun exposure to help with vitamin D is recommended when UV levels are below three.
When the UV index
UV index
The ultraviolet index or UV Index is an international standard measurement of the strength of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun at a particular place on a particular day...
is greater than 3 (which occurs daily within the tropics
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
and daily during the spring and summer seasons in temperate regions) adequate amounts of vitamin D3 can be made in the skin after only ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure at least two times per week to the face, arms, hands, or back without sunscreen. With longer exposure to UVB rays, an equilibrium is achieved in the skin, and the vitamin simply degrades as fast as it is generated. A study published in 2009 examined the interaction between Vitamin D from dietary and other sources in a cohort of 68,611 men and women did not demonstrate a comprehensive link between Vitamin D deficiency and melanoma risk