A Texas mom is angry over a school ban on sunscreen that she says led to her daughter getting a severe sunburn during a field trip.
The North East Independent School District has the restriction because it considers sunscreen toxic, and fears kids will eat it, parent Christy Riggs, of San Antonio, told Fox News.
“The reality is: Children don’t eat sunscreen and they’re not going to,” Riggs said.
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School district spokeswoman Aubrey Chancellor told ABC News that allergic reactions to sunscreen are one of the numerous reasons the district does not allow sunblock in its 72 schools.
“We don’t want students sharing sunscreen,” Chancellor told the station. “If students get it in their eyes or react badly to the sunscreen it can be quite serious.”
The district treats sunscreen as a medicine, Chancellor said, and requires a doctor’s note to apply it at school.
Riggs, whose father died of skin cancer this year, says the ban is hurting the schoolchildren.
“We want to teach our children to eat healthier, yet we have them outside and let them burn,” Riggs said.
“I’m not saying all children should be required to bring sunscreen,” Riggs said. “But skin cancer is on the rise and reapplying at school shouldn’t be an issue.”
According to KCTV 5, Chancellor said parents who know their children may be outdoors should send them to school fully covered in sunscreen.
Officials at Northeast ISD said they review policies every year and may revisit the sunscreen ban.
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