The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Issue 4 Volume 115 | Page 7

COMMENTARY Sandy Johnson, MD “ D Sunblock at School r. Sandy, will you please write a note so my child may apply sunblock at school?” Have you even been asked this question? As a board certified dermatologist, I have been asked this question; unfortunately, I haven’t been asked this question enough. It’s even more unfortunate that it has to be asked at all. Did you know that sunblocks are considered an over-the-counter medication by the FDA? Be- cause of this, in Arkansas (and a few other states), you need parental permission and often a doctor’s note for your child to use sun protection at school. There are many states that are creating and pass- ing legislation to nullify this issue. The first state that I am aware of to draft this legislation was California in 2002, and it was called “Billy’s Bill for Sun Safety” named after Billy Graham who died at the age of 22 from melanoma. Oklahoma became the 11th state overall and the third state in 2018 to pass “SUNucate” legislation to remove this burden. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Preven- tive Services Task Force agree children should be permitted to reduce the risk of skin cancer at school by having access to sunscreen and other sun-protective measures. The American Acad- emy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatologic Surgeons are also supporting leg- islation to educate about the dangers of excess sun exposure state by state. More information may be found at https://www.asds.net/ASDSA- Advocacy/Advocacy-Activities/Model-Legislation/ SUNucate. The American Medical Association has been working on this public policy issue for many years. It is Resolution 403, A-13 appended: Res 422, A-16 last modified in 2016 for “permitting school this year. Unfortunately in Mississippi, that sunscreen in schools H-440.841.” This is not a bill died in committee for reasons that I cannot single specialty issue for Dermatologists. This is find. Arkansas, we are behind Mississippi in this not a Republican or Democratic issue. This is a race to protect our children. Legislators interested no-brainer issue to protect our children. in protecting our children are working to propose We all know that sun-smart behaviors in- clude avoiding artificial sun (tanning beds), avoid- ing peak sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (when children are at school), seeking shade (difficult to do on a playground), wearing legislation. I sure hope that we are forward think- ing a nd protective enough to not only propose this legislation but also pass it expeditiously. Not only should no child be left behind ... no child should be left to sunburn. sun-protective clothing, wearing a wide-brimmed sun hat, wearing sun glasses, and applying and reapplying sunblock on exposed skin every two hours. After all, getting sunburned – even just once every two years – can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer, according to Cancer Research UK. Currently in Arkansas, if your child goes on a field trip, the teacher may reapply sun block every two hours, but is not legally al- More Than Healthcare, Correct Care Solutions. dren unless they have a physician’s note WHO WE ARE CCS is a national public healthcare leader caring for underserved patients in correctional settings, psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment facilities. giving permission for them to apply the Opportunities for: lowed to apply sun block to any of the chil- sunblock. This is better illustrated in an ar- Physician ticle in the Aug. 7, 2017 edition of the Wash- Locations throughout Arkansas ington Post. https://www.washingtonpost. com/national/health-science/many-school- systems-say-kids-need-a-doctors-note- to-use-sunscreen/2017/08/04/19c4a420- Full-time, part-time and PRN available Comprehensive Benefits • 401K Tuition Reimbursement Competitive Compensation • So Much More... 72de-11e7-8f39-eeb7d3a2d304_story. Empathy html?noredirect=on&utm_term=. cb435253b29b Compassion Hopefully, Arkansas will not be one of the last states to enact legislation to protect our CALL TODAY OR APPLY ONLINE children. Surprisingly, Mississippi Republican Chris Phillips [phone] or email [email protected] Sen. Terry C. Burton already sponsored a bill to permit students to carry and use sunscreen at ccs.careers CCS IS PROUDLY AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER NUMBER 4 OCTOBER 2018 • 79