PARENTS who allow their kids to get severely sunburnt should be fined, one expert has warned.
Brits have been enjoying the sunshine this week but the more time we spend outdoors, the more likely we are to suffer from sunburn.
During the heatwave you should make sure your child is properly protected from the sunCredit: Alamy
Temperatures are set to stay high this week and today some areas could reach 30C.
If you’re out in about in the sun, it’s important to stay protected by using suncream and seeking shade where possible.
One expert today warned that if you fail to protect your kids properly, it’s actually the equivalent of “physically harming” them.
Child safeguarding expert Dr Sarah Carlick said children should be protected and that this should also apply when they are out and about enjoying the heat.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain she said parents who don’t properly protect their children in the heat “should be fined” and that more education is needed so that people understand the dangers of the sun.
Asked by host Richard Madeley how parents would be policed when it comes to sunburn she said: “I don’t think I’m here to actually enforce it. I do think that fining and mandatory education [would help]”.
She explained that one severe blistering sunburn can double a child’s chances of getting melanoma when they grow up into an adult.
“Under the law in this country, child protection, safe guarding, physical abuse does include burning.
“So severe burning, if a child had hot water thrown over them and had been scolded, would be investigated as a safeguarding issues. Whether that be non-accidental or accidental injury.
“I’d like to see it to be very specific around sunburn”, she said.
Dr Sarah Carlick said sunburn is actually a matter of safe guardingCredit: itv
Her comments come after three children were admitted to hospital in Swansea with severe sunburn.
This week parents have also warned others about the dangers of their kids spending time in the sun.
One mum said her son suffered second degree burns after spending a couple of hours on the beach.
Another mum issued a warning after her baby boy burned the skin off his feet on their kitchen floor in the heatwave.
If you don’t protect yourself correctly in the sun then you run the risk of getting Melanoma.
Melanoma skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK with around 16,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
How to soothe sunburn
If you’re looking a little bit pink then there are things you can do to soothe your sunburn
Here are five ways you can help soothe the burn.
Cold compress:Â Dr Ross Perry said a cool flannel can help cool your skin without putting it under too much water and exposing you to even more pain.
Moisturise:Â While your skin is still damp apply generous amounts of ceramide-enriched moisturiser which locks in hydration.
Reduce inflammation:Â Taking painkillers such as ibuprofen can help reduce swelling and make you more comfortable.
Be gentle:Â Ditch any exfoliators, toners, face masks, and anti-aging products until it starts to heal.Â
Stay hydrated: Good hydration in and out is vital for sunburn recovery, Dr Perry said. “Burns draw fluid to the skin’s surface and away from the rest of the body which could leave you feeling dehydrated”, he added.
Dr Sarah said if you’re admitted to A&E any pinkness or any sunburn is damaging your skin.
She added: “The sun is a killer, your skin is the biggest organ on your body, I do think if you do have to go out and you are in the midday sun you should have a sun hat, have SPF, have protective clothing.
“I do feel very strongly when it’s severe, when children are having to go to a GP or have to go A&E that for me is an issue of physical harm.
“You are inciting harm on that child and you’re damaging their chances of healthy development when they grow up.”
