Son came home sunburned today - Page 3

[treeoflife3]

I find it interesting that people see a sun burn as different than a burn from an open flame or a hot oven.

I'd be all up in the courts freaking out if someone were routinely allowing my child to get burned on candles or ovens or the like because they were too lazy, too forgetful, or too busy in a power struggle to care about the pain our child was experiencing.

I'm not really sure how sun burn could be seen as different. I get that courts might think it is a waste of time, but it baffles me that anyone would think that. I'm the type who thinks people are too hyped up about sun exposure (I believe some completely exposed sun time each day is actually BETTER for you than never getting any at all.. I'm talking like 10 minutes at noon for moderately fair skinned people) but to get burned enough to cause a concern, especially with a history of skin cancer... how is that NOT a concern?

I'd assume a history of skin cancer coupled with the very real risks of multiple sun burns would be enough to have the courts require sunscreen to be used. Its not hard to use enough and it doesn't take long to learn how much and how often is enough.

I would probably want to fight it too. I'd go to a doctor first about it to have back up.

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by treeoflife3

I'd assume a history of skin cancer coupled with the very real risks of multiple sun burns would be enough to have the courts require sunscreen to be used. Its not hard to use enough and it doesn't take long to learn how much and how often is enough.

I would probably want to fight it too. I'd go to a doctor first about it to have back up.

The problem is that its nearly impossible to enforce. It's actually impossible to enforce. Especially since people can and do get sunburned even while wearing sunscreen.

I personally think that sunscreen is way less of an issue than an open flame - Ummm....really? How are those even comparable??!! A person won't spontaneously combust into a fire ball out in the sun, however, when they are near open flame they could say, catch their hair on fire (very easily!). It's a very different issue. It's upsetting yes, but if its a waste of a courts time to deal with my son being forward facing in a carseat at too young an age, sunscreen is DEFINITELY not on the list of things they will address. And aren't the same people telling these posters to fight the sunscreen issue the same ones that told me a few weeks ago to drop the carseat issue?? Sunscreen isn't required by law. It's just not.

[blessedwithboys]

I read page one and then got mad. OP, I could have written your post word for freaking word. My xmil has had many cancerous and precancerous spots removed and has had chemotherapy on her face to try to avoid disfiguring surgery. Her face looked like ground beef for months. I don't like her as a person, but I wouldn't wish a second round of that on her for all the gold in the world.

Here's what I did to protect ds (Fitzpatrick I):

We have a fantabulous dermatologist. Ds sees her once a year for a full body check. I asked her to write a letter "to whom it may concern" stating her professional recommendation that ds must be fully covered at all times. I use it for school, so that they don't fuss over his hat and sunglasses (not normally allowed in school). The letter also served notice to exdh that this issue must be taken seriously. Attached to her letter was some great info from the AAP.

I personally stopped using sunblock a few years ago after I got tired of worrying about micronized particles and preservatives and such. (If I had to use one, it would be UV Natural) We use Coolibar products for swimming, long rashguards. Ds wear their legionnaire hat and face mask when at PE/recess. Exdh is legally obligated in our divorce to follow doctor's orders, so he is bound by the directions.

Back in May, he "thought ds would be ok in the shade" so he sent him out in the yard in shorts and a tank-style undershirt. He swears ds was only out for 10 minutes, in the shade. It ended up being a 2nd degree burn on his neck, shoulders, and upper arms. For those who don't know, this meant oozing, weeping blisters. It was terribly painful for 8yo ds. Because of the blisters, he was opened up to infection.

I called exdh in private and unleashed every swear word I know, in two languages. The doctor's letter stated the melanoma risk was most elevated after 2 childhood sunburns. I told exdh that this was his one free screw-up. The dermatologist fuh-reaked out. If there is ever a next time, she will call CPS.

If a parent burned their child on the stove, or with an open flame, it would be acknowledged as criminal negligence. Why is a sunburn any different?

OP, get a good skin doctor like yesterday. Get something on the record. Take pictures of the burns. If it ever happens again, consider calling CPS. It is quite serious. It is criminal medical negligence.

Good for you for being sun-wise! I'm sorry this happened to your family. But there are steps you can take to keep it from happening again. GL!

[Ceinwen]

Originally Posted by blessedwithboys

I read page one and then got mad. OP, I could have written your post word for freaking word. My xmil has had many cancerous and precancerous spots removed and has had chemotherapy on her face to try to avoid disfiguring surgery. Her face looked like ground beef for months. I don't like her as a person, but I wouldn't wish a second round of that on her for all the gold in the world.

Here's what I did to protect ds (Fitzpatrick I):

We have a fantabulous dermatologist. Ds sees her once a year for a full body check. I asked her to write a letter "to whom it may concern" stating her professional recommendation that ds must be fully covered at all times. I use it for school, so that they don't fuss over his hat and sunglasses (not normally allowed in school). The letter also served notice to exdh that this issue must be taken seriously. Attached to her letter was some great info from the AAP.

I personally stopped using sunblock a few years ago after I got tired of worrying about micronized particles and preservatives and such. (If I had to use one, it would be UV Natural) We use Coolibar products for swimming, long rashguards. Ds wear their legionnaire hat and face mask when at PE/recess. Exdh is legally obligated in our divorce to follow doctor's orders, so he is bound by the directions.

Back in May, he "thought ds would be ok in the shade" so he sent him out in the yard in shorts and a tank-style undershirt. He swears ds was only out for 10 minutes, in the shade. It ended up being a 2nd degree burn on his neck, shoulders, and upper arms. For those who don't know, this meant oozing, weeping blisters. It was terribly painful for 8yo ds. Because of the blisters, he was opened up to infection.

I called exdh in private and unleashed every swear word I know, in two languages. The doctor's letter stated the melanoma risk was most elevated after 2 childhood sunburns. I told exdh that this was his one free screw-up. The dermatologist fuh-reaked out. If there is ever a next time, she will call CPS.

If a parent burned their child on the stove, or with an open flame, it would be acknowledged as criminal negligence. Why is a sunburn any different?

OP, get a good skin doctor like yesterday. Get something on the record. Take pictures of the burns. If it ever happens again, consider calling CPS. It is quite serious. It is criminal medical negligence.

Good for you for being sun-wise! I'm sorry this happened to your family. But there are steps you can take to keep it from happening again. GL!

Love.this. Absolutely agree, word for freaking word!!

[Phoenix~Mama]

Originally Posted by blessedwithboys

I read page one and then got mad. OP, I could have written your post word for freaking word. My xmil has had many cancerous and precancerous spots removed and has had chemotherapy on her face to try to avoid disfiguring surgery. Her face looked like ground beef for months. I don't like her as a person, but I wouldn't wish a second round of that on her for all the gold in the world.

Here's what I did to protect ds (Fitzpatrick I):

We have a fantabulous dermatologist. Ds sees her once a year for a full body check. I asked her to write a letter "to whom it may concern" stating her professional recommendation that ds must be fully covered at all times. I use it for school, so that they don't fuss over his hat and sunglasses (not normally allowed in school). The letter also served notice to exdh that this issue must be taken seriously. Attached to her letter was some great info from the AAP.

I personally stopped using sunblock a few years ago after I got tired of worrying about micronized particles and preservatives and such. (If I had to use one, it would be UV Natural) We use Coolibar products for swimming, long rashguards. Ds wear their legionnaire hat and face mask when at PE/recess. Exdh is legally obligated in our divorce to follow doctor's orders, so he is bound by the directions.

Back in May, he "thought ds would be ok in the shade" so he sent him out in the yard in shorts and a tank-style undershirt. He swears ds was only out for 10 minutes, in the shade. It ended up being a 2nd degree burn on his neck, shoulders, and upper arms. For those who don't know, this meant oozing, weeping blisters. It was terribly painful for 8yo ds. Because of the blisters, he was opened up to infection.

I called exdh in private and unleashed every swear word I know, in two languages. The doctor's letter stated the melanoma risk was most elevated after 2 childhood sunburns. I told exdh that this was his one free screw-up. The dermatologist fuh-reaked out. If there is ever a next time, she will call CPS.

If a parent burned their child on the stove, or with an open flame, it would be acknowledged as criminal negligence. Why is a sunburn any different?

OP, get a good skin doctor like yesterday. Get something on the record. Take pictures of the burns. If it ever happens again, consider calling CPS. It is quite serious. It is criminal medical negligence.

Good for you for being sun-wise! I'm sorry this happened to your family. But there are steps you can take to keep it from happening again. GL!

Taking notes on this. Thank you!! Skin cancer is so terribly awful.

[provocativa]

I recall a case where they charged a man with first degree abuse in Kentucky for letting a toddler get quite sunburned. The police arrested him, but later dropped the charges because the DA said it was stupid, but not abuse, and said it was a matter for family court. IIRC they turned up other neglect issues about the uav xh during the investigation and the DA then looked a bit foolish.

I am a bit on the fence on this issue- mild burns are usually accidents, not neglect. An established pattern is of course different. I suffered many burns as a child and even when they are first degree they HURT. They hurt for days- way more than a spanking. The last burn I got was 2nd degree large blisters all over my back, with even a few spots of 3rd degree burns, and I have scars all over my back 30 years later which make it embarassing to wear a backless dress or tank, and I have a serious skin cancer risk. ( I did this to myself at age 14 by sneaking to the pool while on medicine which makes one photosensitive, but I digress.) But even the less serious burns hurt A LOT. I see the point of the ladies who want equal treatment for the xhs, and allow them to make mistakes just as we moms make mistakes- certainly my dds have gotten quite hurt with me standing right there and supervising. Xh's deserve that much leeway. But sunburn inflicts a significant amount of pain for at least 24 hours, and no one would allow anyone to inflict that much pain on a child intentionally- it is way more pain then a spanking, as I said before.

Even as one with a high melanoma risk, I am still not certain that causality has been established between sunburn and melanoma. The evidence now is pointing to a deficiency in D3, brought about by indoor living, in concert with occaisional burns. I do think it would be unwise to haul someone back in to court for just one sunburn. But documenting and adding it to a cumulative list of issues seems prudent.