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U.S. NEWS Monday 15 May 2017

More states allow sunscreen at schools without doctor’s OK

MATT O’BRIEN wide and bipartisan sup- and Minnesota.
Associated Press port from health experts If he could apply it himself
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — and state lawmakers. Legis- at school, “he probably
Susan Grenon makes sure lation is moving forward this wouldn’t come home with
her son is lathered with sun- spring in Rhode Island and sunburn,” Grenon said of
screen before he leaves for Louisiana. In Florida, it’s her son. “He’s got a burn
school in the morning, but waiting for the governor’s on the back of his neck on
the fair-skinned 10-year-old signature. The main opposi- the collar line.”
can’t bring a bottle to re- tion has come from school Democratic state Rep.
apply it without a doctor’s nurses voicing caution David Bennett, who spon-
note. about children bringing in sored the Rhode Island
Many school systems cat- lotions that can cause al- bill, said making it so hard
egorize sunscreen as an lergic reactions. for children to apply sun-
over-the-counter medica- Grenon, who lives in Smith- screen on themselves at
tion requiring special pa- field, Rhode Island, said her school “sends kids a con-
perwork, but several states concerns for her son grew flicting message about the
have been pushing to after a doctor excised two very real danger of unpro-
loosen restrictions to make basal cell carcinomas from tected sun exposure.”
it easier for kids to protect her face in February, and He said part of the problem
themselves from skin can- another one three years is that schools are following In this Thursday, May 11, 2017 photo Susan Grenon, left, chats
cer. ago. Grenon said she is the lead of the U.S. Food with her son Pauly, right, as their pet German Shepherd “Gin-
Washington Gov. Jay In- paying the price for nev- and Drug Administration, ger,” center, looks on in an entryway to their home, in Smithfield,
slee, a Democrat, signed er using sunscreen while which regulates sunscreen R.I.
a bill into law this month al- growing up as a military kid as a medication. Rhode Associated Press
lowing students to use sun- in sunny climates such as Island’s proposal would ex-
screen at school without Hawaii and Nevada. empt sunscreen from state nurse in the city of Cranston school, especially if their
notes from a doctor and “We burn within 10 to 15 rules banning students who helps lead the group, parents already applied
parent. Arizona Gov. Doug minutes,” she said of her from using over-the-coun- said there’s a danger of stu- some at home.
Ducey, a Republican, en- family. “We’re fair-skinned ter drugs at public schools dents bringing in sunscreen “In most cases, they do not
acted a similar measure and redheads.” without special permission. and sharing it with other have extended exposure
late last month, following It’s not just a Sun Belt prob- There was little debate on students who are allergic times,” Svitil said. “They’re
Utah in March. Oregon, lem. The U.S. Centers for Bennett’s bill in the Rhode to the fragrances and oth- outside for recess, weather-
Texas and New York have Disease Control and Pre- Island House of Represen- er substances found inside. dependent, but that would
also freed students to use vention has shown that tatives, which voted unani- Svitil said sunscreen is im- usually be maybe for 20
sunscreen in recent years. some of the nation’s high- mously to pass it Tuesday portant but she doesn’t minutes or so.”
California did it back in est rates of melanoma — and moved it on to the see what’s so hard about Rhode Island last year en-
2002. the deadliest form of skin state Senate. But a state- a signed note faxed to her acted a law requiring el-
Backed by the personal cancer — are in northern wide association of school office. She also questioned ementary schools to give
care products industry, regions, such as New Eng- nurses is raising objections. how important it is for kids children at least 20 minutes
such proposals also have land, the Pacific Northwest Deborah Svitil, a school to put on sunscreen at of recess each day.q

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