Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

I visited a couple of primary schools yesterday and I was surprised at how the kids are allowed to just play outdoors wearing shorts and short sleeved shirts at 1130AM (when UV is at its harshest).

I understand that a hat is required but that only helps shade the face. wouldnt it be better if they were allowed to wear long sleeves shirts, is there an option for parents to do this?

Dont people here learn? with all the constant medical advice saying NOT to expose yourself? I have seen the skin of the older ozzies, those in their 50-60s and it is TERRIBLE! aside from melanoma it looks like their arms were slow roasted! all wrinkled, damaged, with black spots etc...

Ok so their generation clearly did not know any better....but this generation supposedly knows better.

Are parents allowed to choose a pants or long sleeves version of the school uniform?

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Nobody would object at my son's school, but I guess it might vary from place to place. Most of the parents we know apply SPF30+ before they go in in the morning.

Interesting article on the subject of UV during the winter months, here.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

My kids school have shorts and crew neck t-shirts and wide brimmed hat, they apply factor 30+ before they get dressed as part of their daily routine...

They sit in a shaded area to eat lunch, and are encouraged to seek shade whilst playing outdoors.

If they go out for sport the PE teacher had a big botle of sunscreen that they all put on.

If they forget their hats they dont get to play!!!!

There are long shirts(winter uniform) available but in the heat here in the summer they would not be practicle the kids would roast in them.

My kids also have bottles of sunscreen in their bags.....and if they want to go and play soccer after lunch then they put more on.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Same with the sunscreen - loads on all the time, eat in the shade, not allowed out without hat etc. What was daft though was the Anzac service on Tuesday, the littlies were in the shade, biggies (grades 3 - 7) in the sun and because of protocol were not allowed to wear their hats :mad: ONLY one kid fainted - whoopy do!

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

I am concerned as from talking to local mums it seems that in our area the little kids, kindy/prep school age ish do not have sun screen reapplied during the day. Apparently the teachers are concerned they might have sensitive skin to the sun lotion :huh: seems a poor excuse. If you put sun screen on before school it should be reapplied before lunch time sun. I wouldn't mind sending him to school with sun lotion in his bag if the teacher would reapply it. I guess it is something I will have to discuss with the kindy teacher before he starts there.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

My 4 year old applies her own. She only has to do lower arms, lower legs and her face. I got a roll on for her so its easier to apply.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

teachers are not allowed to put sunscreen on the kids....too much contact and all that bollox

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

I kind of thought that as well when I was typing it. Sad world we live in. :blink:

I am not sure what age little uns can apply suntan lotion to themselves. I guess a rollerball one would be easiest for them.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

From experience, little one's have absolutely no problem smearing all sorts of stuff all over themselves. Just tell yours that they are not allowed to do it :thumbsup:

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Broad brimmed hat is required in many primary schools, not all, but when we looked high schools one state schools only offereing was a cap, if they wanted to wear broad brimmed they had to have a permission slip:confused:

Dont mess about with the sun, teach them to use block out before the uniform, do backs and everything if they ride will be covered in moles through the shirt in no time otherwise. And re-apply by lunchtime, as you say worst part of the day and out they go, often followed by sports so they can be out there for almost 2 hours, they must re do the sunblock cause its worn off by then.

Our youngest ( now aged 9) had a skin cancer removed right where the short sleeved shirt ends, so your point about long sleeves is very valid.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

great replies.

somehow though I have a feeling my 5 year old will always forget to re apply her own sunblock though (the roll on is a good idea)....but mine will probably even forget the bottle is in her bag:blink: ....

too bad the summers are just so hot that you cant get away with wearing long sleeves all day....

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

sorry to hear that.....hope she does not get anymore.....

ya, i am now thinking of having beige-colored, long "sleeves-only" made, ones that you can take on and off without having to remove your shirt. (you slide it on to your lower arms like a tube with stretch garters and only your hands are exposed).....

the school better allow my kids to wear them...

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Many workplaces now are enforcing not only long sleeve shirts but long pants too, not thin material either, thick dark navy. Sons employer has this rule and the only part of him you can see when he leaves for work is the hands and nose and chin. Sensible but by god its hot.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

thats good, fortunately some employers are actually doing something about the hazards...

i just really worry for our kids given their really sensitive skin (which WILL be scarred for life unless necessary precautions are taken)...the amount of time they spend under the sun in school (deadly 10am-2pm sun at that) is frightening....

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

I never stand in the sun and never sunbake.

However, I am getting slack (in general) about doing outdoor jobs around the house in autumn/winter when I am fooled by a bit of cloud cover or cooling now in temps.

And my daughter takes off her hat and throws it on the floor.

Go to the bottom of the class Badge.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

When its stinking hot we tell the little one to go to the library at lunchtime, , apart from the few trees and the lunch eating area its the only shade, sod playing out if it means chronic sunburn and yes you do see that. Also speak up, if they are planning a 6 hour activity outside mid summer just say NO, my kid wont be participating. My sons school dont argue with me, maybe thats cause its quite obvious why, milky bar kid has nothing on this one, or maybe they know me by now:rofl:

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

PMSL that is so true :D

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

I am really quite shocked reading some of the replies in this thread. I was really sure that Aussie schools would be top of the class when it came to sun protection.:(

BTW, we just bought a Boots sun tan that lasts for 6 hours. Bit like p20 but higher factors. We got a factor 40 for the kids and applied it to them before dressing around 8am when we were on holiday. Just needed a quick re-appliction after lunch and they were sorted. That kind of thing would at least ensure kids at school were still covered during lunch breaks.

Someone on another site recently recommendd a site to me that sells UV protecting clothes, inc great shorts and tshirts. The manufacturer who uses this kind of material in school uniforms is going to make a fortune:thumbup: .

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Our school T shirts are UV resistant. If you imagine if the teachers were responsible for applying sunscreen how long it would take to apply sunscreen to the whole class. Parents would be whinging I can tell you that it was taking up valuable teaching time.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Make sure the school is a "Sun Smart" school - that is they sign up to good safety practise including proper sun hats and sun cream the kids throughout the day.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

my kids uniforms are 50+ and are $17 each with the school logo on...bloody bargain I say :)

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

You cannot expect schools to take complete responsibility for protecting children from sun damage. Parents have to teach their children to apply sunscreen, wear a hat etc. Schools in NSW have the no hat no play rule and sport is conducted in the morning in summer and and afternoon in winter. I assume other states have similar protocols in place. Teachers have enough to do without having to apply sunscreen to children. It is a parents responsibility to ensure that their children are made aware of the dangers of exposure to the sun.
I get so annoyed listening to people putting the onus on to teachers for things that are a parents responsibility.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Is total protection from sunlight a good idea for children through to adults and will it increase or decrease their risk of cancers or other significant health risks over time?

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

I totally agree it is up to us as parents to educate our kids.....we have taken ours abroad on holidays since they were aged one.....and they were not allowed out if they didnt wear a hat sunnies and sunscreen. People used to laugh at us how the hell do u get ur kids to keep sunnies and hats on.........SIMPLE.................they take them off they go inside.....and it has been like that for the last 12 years.....they now know its just like brushing their teeth....part of the daily routine. When we first came here my two were the only ones that wore sunnies to school....a young kid laughed at them....my daughter piped up.......See when I meet you in 20 years time.....I will laugh at yer white stick!!!!!!

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

That's a fantastic price. Would cost the earth if they did them here. The blazer alone at our local primary school is £60!!!! And they only wear them for about a fortnight:mad:

Gill

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

it is....I remember when we first came and we kitted them out I thought ahhhFFS!!!! but I forgot it was $'s and no pounds lol

I spend around $150 a year on school clothes and they r all uv 50+

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Hmmm.. seems no one's got an answer. Time to throw a grenade into this thread:eek:

Who's more dangerous to your child? You or the sun?

My bets on you at 10:1:ohmy:

Lets see if you sincere but paranoid over protective parents can figure out why. :confused:

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

I'll throw another couple of questions in here to get you guys thinking.

Why is it important for kids to wear something on there head and why do schools provide shaddy areas?

Clue. Nothing to do with UV or skin damage.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

what r u on about now?

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

My daughter school have shaded and unshaded area's, if they forget their hats they have to stay in the shaded areas or in the classroom. If they don't have sunscreen or a jacket on they don't play out.

They have PE once a week outside, if they don't have sunscreen they don't do PE.

They can wear long sleeves at any time without having any problems

I taught my daughter how to apply sunscreen before we got here, Ok so she was 6 but she didn't have a clue at first, now she does. I buy the coloured stuff so she can see that she's got it on all over. The teachers, although not allowed to apply it, do help them with it.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Trying to ascertain if anyone here actually knows what they're talking about.

Don't get me wrong I think you're all caring concerned parents but so far I don't see any evidence that anyone here actually understands what they're doing.

So I'll play House :) and lets see what happens.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

:eek: of course I'm not so naive that I think it doesn't happen, but it is still scary.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Well I've had probably one too many beers, but is it something to do with Vitamin B :confused: If not please PM me and put me out of my misery :rofl:

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Yes but why? Com'on guys someone must know. In Oz this is life and death stuff for kids and I don't mean skin cancer.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Wrong.. go to the back of the class:zzz:

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

There's also sunstroke - not pleasant, I've had it as a child. Shaded areas are cooler in the heat?

On the subject of total sunblock - what about the fact that we need a bit (I'm not saying to allow children to play out in strong sun for ages - but athis is something I've been wondering about) of sun on our skins (vit. D. or whatever, production).

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

I'll answer you tomorrow when I'm not pished :D I've got to edit my posts to get the spelling right, no chance of doing a meaningful post :rofl:

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Sunshine on skin is important in the production of Vit. D (if I remember correctly) so wouldn't account for shade or sunhats.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Why not just *educate* us then, a bit daft to string it along if you've got a point to make.

Re: Kids and harmful UV rays while at school
 

Now we're getting somewhere.:thumbsup:

Thermoregulation. Why's this important for kids??