To complain to the school.

[honeymom]

That they think it's appropriate to take children on an educational trip to the beach today, where there is very little shade and the children will be exposed to the midday sun for nearly 5 hours, even with good suncream reapplied regually I would never keep my children in the sun for that long, So why on earth would the school think it's a good idea?

It seems that if you are a school you can just ignore Every bit of sun safety information out there? should I complain or am I be unreasonable?

some of us did burn though

i remember watching the skin on my brother's shoulders actually bubbling at sports day once

and kids vomiting after long races

I burned so badly on the beach once I had yellow blisters the size of golf bals all over my back and shoulders, my dad had to rip holes in a T-shirt to fit over them

luciemule why was your dd allowed to sit in full sun with no hat until she got sunstroke? Did you send in a hat with her? Also sunstroke can kill are you sure it wasn't heatstroke?

YABU

Either ensure your dd has suncream, hat, cover up etc or keep her at home. Don't spoil it for everyone else by making an issue out of it.

I am as sun conscious as you can get and have no qualms about my 3 being in the sun with adequate protection.

I'm thinking the people who are sayig you're overreacting honeymom, are probably those who would sunbathe on a beach in the middle of the day.

Your example about smoking is a very sound one. There are still over 10000 cases of skin cancer every year in the UK so it's obviously still a huge problem even with more people applying cream.

The sad thing is that it's complaints of this kind which create a domino effect, often causing schools to re-think their daytrip options and the children of the rest of us disappointed and missing out on a normal, fun experience.

luciemule "I'm thinking the people who are sayig you're overreacting honeymom, are probably those who would sunbathe on a beach in the middle of the day."

I think she is overreacting and I have never sunbathed in my life, I wear sunscreen everyday for around six months of the year and my father died from skin cancer.

Life is there to be lived though, the beach on a warm summer's day is a fine thing and very good for children to enjoy, with some easy, sensible steps.

Skin cancer often doesn't present for many years so the cases being diagnosed now are from the sun 10 to 15 years ago when many did't wear cream.

Hopefully the cases will drop in years to come as many more people are aware of the risks and are staying protected.

well i'd rather my children were disappointed than dying of skin cancer, I just can't believe any risk assessment in the world would have covered this as safe

honeymom, if you were that concerned you should have kept her off.

So keep your children home and let everyone else get on with their fun trip.

okay - was generalising - some people worry more than others but that doesn't mean OP is worrying without reason.

Quite morloth.

I have no issue with people protecting their skin and that of their children, but not at the expense of actually doing things. Suncream, long sleeves and hats?

I did go and get them in the end, and now I risk a fine for keeping them off unauthorized can't bloody win,

my children love trips to the beach, but I take them early morning or later in the afternoon I would never take them over lunch time,

Not exactly rocket science.

honeymom what about playing outside at school over lunchtime for up to an hour?

what about playing in the garden?

do you REALLY keep your children out of direct sunlight unless it's dawn or twilight?

have you seen "The Others"?

Oh tosh - you won't get a fine for one unauthorised absence. They only fine repeat offenders, after the local council attnedance officer has been involved. I am quite sure if the school tried to make an issue of this, you could write to the head of governors and express your (quite sensible) concerns and explain why you got your DD.

did the school take umbrellas, tents, etc for protection?

Think they wouldn't have a leg to stand on if you mentioned them being on the beach in the midday sun.

tell them to take it off your 10 days allowance for the year - then it's authorized.

I would certainly never sunbathe over lunchtime, in fact I never sunbathe at all. I wear suntan lotion at all times once the sun is out, and despite spending all of my summers (literally) on the beach or on the water I can count the number of times I have burnt on one hand. As said, I'm not trying to dismiss your worries, but don't dismiss others as idiots. Tell the school you are not giving permission for your child to be taken out of school.

BTW I don't sunbathe. Ever. It's boring and too hot. But I do subject myself to the sun whilst doing something else. With lotion and hats etc.

being in the garden/school playground with canopies/shelter/trees and shade is very different than being on an open beach at midday with no shelter.
Honeymom is very sensible and is only doing what govt.guidelines tell everyone to do.
It doesn't mean she's not letting her kids have fun - she's just doing other stuff in the really hot hours when the sun is far more damaging.
What about the spanish having siestas for 2 hours at lunch time - it's not because they're lazy.

I think YANBU at all. All the sun-safe advice is to stay out of it around the hours of 11-2, especially on the beach. Apart from sun burn and heat stroke, the bright midday sun can also damage eyes.
Personally I would hate to be forced onto a hot beach all day, even covered in sun-cream. (and hat and long sleeves). Even the very high factors all say you should re-apply every half-hour.

Honeymom, the chances of succumbing to skin cancer by a child whose parents are forewarned of a single one day trip and thus are prepared and can take sensible precautions are, I would imagine, almost nil.

Surely too, the children are not going to be on a beach for 5 hours solid? What the hell will the staff do with them, kids get bored, even on a beach. I'd imagine that if only for this reason the sitting on the beach will be interdispersed with other activity.

I'm tempted to ask about your opinion of your DD crossing the road to make my point clear but that would make this thread descend into chaos and besides I have work to do!

Suffice to say that despite all the worst case scenarios and, imo, "scared to live" attitudes, I remain convinced that in the particular circumstances you've described you are over-reacting.

yes it IS because they are lazy

If the school weren't going to literally be on the beach for all 5 hours, then perhaps they should have written more details in a letter; giving parents more of an idea and thus not making them worry.

I think you are worrying too much . I think the teachers will be very aware of keeping the kids safe. It really would be a shame for them to miss out on a trip to the seaside.
I hardly ever but some cream on my son unless it is really hot and we are out in it for a long period. He has not burnt. I think sometimes cream does more harm than good as it stops you building up the skins natural protection .You just have to be sensible.