Week 1 BOC: Slip! Slop Slap!

Slip! Slop Slap! is an ad campaign that was formed in the 80's that was prominent in Australia. 
“One of the most successful health campaigns in Australia’s history was launched by Cancer Council Australia...”  http://www.cancer.org.au/cancersmartlifestyle/SunSmart/Campaignsandevents/SlipSlopSlapSeekSlide.htm  The commercial features a cute little seagull named Sid.  Sid goes throughout the commercial informing the viewers about the sun’s harmful effects.  His purpose is to show that reduced exposure to the sun can reduce risk for skin cancer.  “Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancer are diagnosed each year, while more than 75,000 people develop melanoma, one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer.” http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/MoreWaysACSHelpsYouStayWell/acs-skin-cancer-prevention-activities

The commercial’s catchy tune gets the thought in viewer’s heads to:

• Slip on a shirt
• Slop on sunscreen
• Slap on a hat

“Cancer Council believes its Slip! Slop! Slap! campaign has played a key role in the dramatic shift in sun protection attitudes and behaviour over the past two decades.”  http://www.sunsmart.com.au/news_and_media/media_campaigns/slip-slop-slap/  It is amazing how successful this campaign was, and still is, to have altered the way people think about the sun.  Creating awareness could save many people’s lives to cut down on rates of getting skin cancer.

In 2007, the campaign was updated to not only slip, slap, and slop, but to also seek (seek shade) and slide (slide on sunglasses).