Wash. school's sunscreen policy leaves two sisters badly burned

Violet, 11, and Zoe, 9, display the sunburn they suffered at their school's field day in photos provided by their mother Jesse Michener.

/ Jesse Michener

(CBS News) Nasty cases of sunburn experienced by a Wash. woman's two young daughters has thrust the spotlight on school safety policies that may be falling short of that goal.

Jesse Michener wrote on her blog on June 20 that two of her three daughters, 9-year-old Zoe and 11-year-old Violet, came home badly burned from a field day at Point Defiance Elementary School in Tacoma, Wash. The mother told HealthPop that she received a call from Zoe telling her that she felt sick with dizziness, headache and sunburn.

Even worse, the principal told Michener that the school couldn't apply sunblock on the fair-skinned children because of a policy that prevents the use of medication -- even sunscreen -- without a physician's consent.

"Yesterday's Field Day at my kids' school went horribly wrong," Michener began her post. "Two of my three children experienced significant sunburns. Like, hurts-to-look-at burns."

On her blog, Michener says Zoe was diagnosed with a form of albinism, a genetic condition in which the skin contains little or no pigment. Her daughter went home early where her father was waiting, who sent pictures to his wife. Michener rushed home, where she saw both daughters were badly burned.

"I was horrified," she said. After giving the girls fluids and putting them to rest, she went to the school after hours where she met the principal.

"I said (to the principal), 'Have you seen my girls?'" Michener recalled. "(The principal) said, 'Oh my gosh, they're so burnt.'" When Michener asked why no one had given her daughters sunscreen or removed them from the outdoor activities, the principal said their hands were tied since it was school policy that a child requires a prescription in order to use medication, even over-the-counter kinds like sunscreen. One of the teachers even applied sunscreen to herself in front of her daughter, Michener stated.

The student handbook posted on the school district's website states a physician must authorize all medications, and they must be kept in the nurse's office in a locked cabinet.

District spokesman Dan Voelpel told CBS affiliatie KPIC in Roseburg, Oregon that the doctor's note policy is actually based on a statewide law, aimed at protecting kids who might have an allergy to ingredients in sunscreen.

The girls were taken to Tacoma General Hospital to be examined by doctors, Michener said.

"They were on track for a heat stroke," Michener said. "They've never experienced five hours of direct sun at school or anywhere else."

Michener recalled that it was raining the morning her daughters got burned,so she didn't apply sunscreen to her daughters because she assumed the field day would be held inside. Even if the sun came out, the campus had shaded areas and her daughters had never come home sunburned before.

She also added that her daughters said that parent volunteers and teachers were commenting on how burned the girls were getting throughout the day, but did not offer assistance. Hats are also not allowed at the school.

"If there's a policy tying their hands from keeping the kids safe, that's not right," she explained, calling it a lapse in common sense. "At the end of the day, remove the child from harm."

The girls stayed home the next day to recover, but went to school for the final four days. Both girls' conditions have since improved, Michener said, but she plans to partner with several advocacy groups that have initiatives aimed at spreading awareness or changing local and state policies. Michener said a similar medication policy requiring a prescription for over-the-counter products exists in 49 states.

"Parents have to be proactive and understanding of sunscreen policy by district," Michener said. "If you can't stand it, change it."

NBC'sToday Show reports that the school district said it since apologized to Michener and said it plans to revise the policy by October.

[ll9956]

The principal completely dodged the mother's question of why her daughters weren't removed from the outdoor activities. The failure of the school to put the girls in a shady area or otherwise shelter them from the sun is TOTALLY INEXCUSABLE! PERIOD! The principal and the teachers in charge of the field trip have ample reason to be profoundly ashamed of themselves.

In 20-20 hindsight, obviously in the future the required doctor's note should be given to the school and medication should be provided by the parents and the girls' teachers should be notified that the sunscreen should be applied whenever they are exposed to the sun.

[gnimelf1968]

Everyone here is arguing about the stupid sunscreen. What about just getting them out of the sun? That would have been the best idea. School doesn't want a lawsuit? Don't put sunscreen on the kids but don't let them get burned either. Or, couldn't someone contact one of the parents and say your child is getting too much sun, can we give them some sunscreen? Teachers have absolutely no brains. They don't care about these kids, just their stupid pensions. Teachers don't teach kids how to think anymore, just what to think.

[ll9956]

I totally agree (see my comment above.)

[erichsh]

"NBC'sToday Show reports that the school district said it since apologized to Michener and said it plans to revise the policy by October."

I thought the principal said his "hands were tied"? I thought this was as a result of a "statewide law"?

[knewsteerrrrr]

Yeah well, if they DID put sunscreen on them and they had a severe allergic reaction or something, then you can bet the parents would SUE for putting it on! The school cant win no matter what it does, so the best thing is to get rid of the field trips and park their fannies in a desk all day.

[Responsible2]

Schools always send home information on upcoming events such as field days. I have raised three children and they all looked forward to field day. In the morning we would apply sunscreen, talk about drinking lots of water and having fun. If a parent is concerned about the activities parents can come to field day to ensure their children are having a fun and safe time. Let's think about it there are a minimum of 25 children per class and generally just one teacher, parents need to be proactive when it comes to taking care of their childrens needs.

[kbbpll]

Your child is an albino and it's the school's fault she got sunburned? Really?

[bobnjersey]

[Hats are also not allowed at the school.]
------------------------------------
but third degree burns are completely acceptable.

[KLizzy]

Really? Do you even know what third degree burns look like? The girls' skin would be blistered and raw. They got sunburned because their mom doesn't know that even on a cloudy day, the sun is strong and will burn. The mom doesn't want to blame herself so she pinning it on the schoolboard.

[realtimecoffee]

And once again dumbest common denominator rules our education system.

[IAMCS]

OMG what crazy policies! Why can't the school have parent's sign a release form before a field trip. Or give them a form for their doctor's to sign!!! This is about the stupidest thing I have read in a long time! And , you parents...why not give your kids a rub down before the trip and send some spray along with them?

[gnimelf1968]

Did you bother to read the article? She said she didn't put anything on them because it was RAINING when they left and the school policy says all medications need to have a doctors okay and be kept in the school office. Try reading something other than just the headline.

[treehgr07]

The kids cannot take the sunscreen without a doctor's note. This is a policy where I live too and it is silly. Some things like cough drop, chapstick and sunscreen should be able to be approved by a parent.