Promoting a culture of prevention and health education from childhood, bringing academic expertise also into the settings of sport and outdoor life: this is the aim of “Health at Sea from an Early Age”, the new project developed as part of the Public and Social Engagement – Third Mission activities promoted by the Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences (DSMCS) of the University of Trieste.

The initiative will take place in Trieste within the framework of the 13th Zone of the Italian Sailing Federation, from Monday 15 June to Friday 4 September, with weekly sessions aimed at the sailing schools that have joined the project. The meetings, lasting around one hour, have been proposed to local sailing clubs and associations in order to reach children and young people aged 6 to 13 who are approaching the world of sailing.

The programme will focus on some of the main conditions that may arise during activities at sea, from sunburn and dehydration to minor injuries and other common situations in outdoor sports and recreational contexts. The aim is to provide simple, accurate and age-appropriate knowledge, encouraging informed behaviour and basic skills useful for preventing and initially managing minor health issues.

The scientific rigour of the project is ensured by a multidisciplinary board bringing together different clinical and academic areas of expertise, coordinated by the DSMCS, directed by Professor Luigi Murena. The working group involves specialists in paediatrics, anaesthesiology, dermatology, dentistry, orthopaedics and sports medicine, including Egidio Barbi, Erik Roman-Pognuz, Laura Trapani, Gianluca Tornese, Umberto Lucangelo, Adamo Pio D’Adamo, Nicola Di Meo, Milena Cadenaro, Alex Buoite Stella, Alessandro Amaddeo, Iris Zalaudek, Leandro Ferreira and Daniele Tognetto. The board worked on defining the educational content, adapting it to the age of the young sailors and to the situations that may occur during activities in marine environments.

The collaboration with the Immaginario Scientifico will further strengthen the project’s outreach dimension. The science centre will contribute to the development of content designed for a young audience, with a lively, educational and pedagogically engaging approach.