BOC: Slip! Slap Slop!

"One of the most successful health campaigns in Australia’s history was launched by Cancer Council Australia in 1980. Sid the seagull, wearing board shorts, t-shirt and a hat, tap-danced his way across our TV screens singing a catchy jingle to remind us of three easy ways of protecting against skin cancer. " "At a time when melanoma rates were climbing and evidence of the link between UV radiation and skin cancer was mounting the ad was created to bring light on to the raising cancer rates." Later on in 2007 the cancer campaign was later updated to slip, slop, slap, seek, slide. The additions for the 2007 campaign added seeking shade and sliding on a pair of wrap around sunglasses. For the past twenty years the program has shifted attitudes towards sun protection. The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention is a group that is consisted of more than 45 organizations that aim to prevent skin cancer. Skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers so the ads made a huge impact in preventing cancer. The catchy jingle made is even easier to remember what the steps where. Also posters where created to create even more buzz for the campaign. Sid the seagull as he is called had made a point to make sure that people know how important it is to protect yourself and your loved ones from the sun’s UV rays. "Australians suffer the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. Each year, around 1,200 Australians die from what is an almost totally preventable disease." One of the reasons for this is that Austria has higher UV rays, because they are located closer to the ozone hole over the Antarctic. The ad has been so successful that since its debut Australians have changed their views on sun protection and have also changed some of their behaviors.