HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
Medical experts say parents worried about overexposure to sun while their kids are away at school or summer camp should not assume adults in charge will take care of protecting their little ones. Many facilities have a sunscreen ban in place that does not allow children to apply their own sunscreen, or allow the average adult staffer to apply it for them.
The issue made headlines recently when a mom in Washington state posted a picture of her daughter online claiming adults supervising her at school didn't offer her shade or sunscreen when a cloudy day turned sunny.
Campers at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Space Camp and Aviation Challenge are allowed to carry their own sunscreen, but counselors can't help them put it on.
"We have a strict policy with our counselors and our campers, no touching. That just crosses a line that we are not going to risk. We're going to have our medical staff take care of that," said Jen Dicarlo, Manager of the Aviation Challenge camp.
However, Dicarlo said counselors can help kids with spray-on sunscreen.
"That spray stuff is just so handy," she said. "We don't want anybody to miss an activity, so we'll just go grab some of our spray sunscreen, spray them up, and they'll be good to go. Rather than have to take the time to get them up to the nurses and have them miss their activity. It helps us also not compromise the rule of the no touch."
Both Huntsville and Madison City Schools treat sunscreen just like over-the-counter drugs. Parents have to sign a form and bring the sunscreen to the school nurse. Students are not allowed to share sunscreen or apply it themselves because of allergy concerns. Madison County Schools officials allow students to carry sunscreen themselves and apply it whenever they see fit, without a nurse's help.
Doctors recommend applying sunscreen at home before your child leaves for school or camp if you believe they might be at risk. If a parent is concerned about a child getting a sunburn, they should contact the school or camp in advance to learn the facility's policies.
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