to be cross about dd getting sunburnt at school

[iloveithere]

Dd is 10, in year 6. she had a school trip today, and has come back burnt.
AIBU to think that even at her age the school should have reminded the children to get and apply their cream, and given them time to do it.
I didn't tell her this morning, as I didn't know they were going out, it was just a local walk, we have signed blanket permission for this type of thing.

Should the school remind children of this age, or should she have done it independently?

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Well that doesn't happen at dd's secondary school.

[dementedma]

Doesn't happen at Ds secondary either, hence Tuesday s sunburn when it was such a sunny day they all spent an unexpected afternoon outside getting burned doing activities.

[wakemewhenitsover]

From skin cancer.org "One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life." I have skin cancer and multiple surgerys under my belt, some very distressing and disfiguring. It doesn't matter where you live, our children need to be taught that the sun has the potential to be very harmful, even fatal and that tanned skin is not "healthy".

[Mutley77]

specialsubject - I will give you the Aussie lowdown :)

My children are in a state primary here. You are right - no hat, no play! The school uniform includes a wide brimmed hat and children aren't allowed out without it, even in winter. To be fair we are right into winter at the moment and most days have a high temp of 19/20 degrees C and the sun can still burn, but generally most people don't get burned in winter.

The pre-school and reception aged children play pretty much exclusively under shade sails during the day. Obviously in summer this is essential as the daytime high temp can be regularly 40 degrees C.

Most families have a standard high SPF suncream (not P20 or a special all day thing) by the front door which children routinely apply before going out in the morning. No-one takes suncream to school with them and I have never known of anyone getting burned. My children are English born and bred but don't burn at school on 40 degree days!!!

To be honest here it is just so rare to be out of the shade for lengthy periods of time around the middle of the day when it is summer. If the children are outside they MUST be wearing hats. Also my DD (age 9) is offered suncream by the sports teacher if they are going to be out in the sun for a reasonable period of time during summer. It is just a more common sense approach IMO - the whole health and safety thing is much less of an issue here, no-one would even think "Why is the sports teacher offering suncream that might give my child a rash?" - they just think "Sun strong - good idea to reapply suncream we're going to be out for a while!".

During summer my children put suncream on every morning as part of their routine - I will do the same in the UK if and when we return and make sure they have a hat with them. I will never send them in with suncream as if they don't to reapply during the day in Australia, they don't need to in England IMO. I don't either. As long as I have applied properly in the morning, I am not ever in the sun enough to warrant re-apply - I don't sunbathe as I don't think it's particularly sensible (I used to love sunbathing on holiday but don't since living here!!)