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Project SAFETY

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. It is also the most preventable.

Project S.A.F.E.T.Y. (Sun Awareness For Educating Today's Youth) is a science-based skin cancer awareness and prevention curriculum developed by The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center with Texas Cancer Council funding.

In classroom use over the last decade as a multi-item module, this highly effective program was re-released in January 2002 as a three-lesson CD-ROM with an accompanying 80-page Teacher's Guide, targeting students in grades 4-12.

Project S.A.F.E.T.Y.

  • Was developed by science and health educators
  • Uses the classroom to deliver accurate information about the consequences of overexposure to ultraviolet radiation and its role in the development of skin cancer
  • Is easily incorporated into your science and health curricula
  • Features topics such as ozone depletion, ultraviolet rays and the skin cell cycle

Background and Impact

Severe sunburns occurring in the first 18 years of life are linked to a greatly increased lifetime risk of melanoma (the rarest but most deadly form of skin cancer). The Project S.A.F.E.T.Y. curriculum teaches children to recognize the early warning signs of melanoma and other skin cancers. It also emphasizes that anyone can get skin cancer, and teaches the importance of practicing daily prevention and regular skin self-exams.

Girl Scouts "Project S.A.F.E.T.Y. Patch"

Requirements for this sun safety Girl Scout patch include viewing the 10-minute video, “Gear Up for Summer”. Read more.

Disease Information


© 2009 The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center