This summer has undoubtedly been hot, with brutal sunny days. The other day I was talking with someone who works for a town recreation department and I asked what steps they take to protect the youth attending their programs during these intense summer days. I was told precaution includes hydration and rest, and a promotion of sunscreen use. Parents are strongly encouraged to apply sunscreen before their child arrives for the day.  Of course, during the duration of the day sunscreen’s effectiveness wears off and should be reapplied. The employee explained to me that the department’s policy is that kids bring sunscreen and can reapply it or counselors will apply the spray-on type.

It seems like a simple, common sense policy: parents send their children sunscreen they believe is safe, the people trusted to care for those children apply the sunscreen and the kids avoid painful sunburns and long-term damage.

However, the same common sense approach doesn’t carry into our schools. Unfortunately, the New York State Department of Education doesn’t promote easy access to sunscreen. When shopping for back to school supplies, parents will also need a licensed prescriber to complete a form to allow their children to apply sunscreen when in school. A permission slip for sunscreen? Widely promoted as a key step for preventing skin cancer, sunscreen is not a drug or controlled substance but it is treated as such by the department of education.

I oppose this policy. Parents’ permission should suffice when it comes to protecting their children from the sun through applying a topical lotion. In the event a child doesn’t have physician’s authorization on file, they can’t put on sunscreen while at school. I watched the national news story that aired just before school ended about two sisters in Washington State who left for school on a rainy day. The skies cleared and the school went forward with its planned field day. According to the news reports, the girls weren’t allowed to apply sunscreen because of the state’s policy, were sent outside and suffered severe burns and blisters on their fair skin. Their mom was understandably horrified and outraged.

This is a perfect example of when government needs to revise an unnecessary guideline. Our Education Department could protect the students and avoid wasteful time and costs for parents by removing the requirement that says a doctor must intervene. At the Legislature’s July 12 session, I voted in favor of asking the State to revise this policy. Hopefully action will be taken before the start of the 2012-13 school year.

This issue has brought to light that there are many policies, guidelines and rules at the county level that are unnecessary. I have begun the process of reviewing such policies to ensure that the county isn’t imposing requirements that might have good intentions but aren’t achieving their purpose, or doing so with unnecessary steps. Any unwarranted regulations that I find will be presented for revision or elimination.  

If you ever have any questions or concerns about a county issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 858-8922 or by email at joseph.lorigo@erie.gov. I am always interested in hearing from you.