Dramatic school trip disaster: student in hospital after sunburn!

Dramatic school trip disaster: student in hospital after sunburn!

There was great anticipation when the students from the Rudolf Tonner School from Neumünster went on a school trip to Sylt from June 30th to July 4th, 2025. But excitement quickly turned to expressions of concern as several third-graders were faced with severe sunburns and even medical treatment. Mercury reported that a child with second-degree burns on his face had to be admitted to the Schleswig-Holstein University Hospital in Lübeck.

The shocked parents make serious allegations against the accompanying teachers. They say that inadequate sun protection and going on hikes despite already having burns were unacceptable. This led to the affected parents not only filing a criminal complaint, but also filing a supervisory complaint against the teachers.

Medical care and return to school

During the school trip, three children had to be treated for sunburns. However, the attending doctor on site saw no need for action and allowed the school trip to continue. The parents report that the serious injuries were only recognized after they returned to Neumünster. Almost all children are now back at school, while one still has to recover at home.

The Ministry of Education does not seem to share the parents' allegations. It was emphasized that sun protection was available. Nevertheless, the situation is alarming, as experts warn of the risks of strong UV radiation, especially on North Sea islands, where the sun's rays are significantly intensified by the reflection effect of the water.

Dangers of UV radiation

The topic of UV radiation and its health consequences is by no means a new topic. Studies like those from DGUV presented show that even low levels of exposure to UV radiation can have long-term negative consequences, including skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma has been recognized as an occupational disease since 2015 and the numbers are continuously increasing. The skin cancer rate in Europe has doubled since 2000.

With climate change leading to less cloud cover, UV exposure has increased in recent years. The organization has found in its research that the frequency of low ozone events, also known as “mini ozone holes,” can lead to unexpectedly high levels of UV exposure.

Protective measures in daycare centers and schools

In order to avoid such incidents in the future, it is crucial that daycare centers and schools implement appropriate protective measures. Like in particular Climate human health emphasizes, attention should be paid to comprehensive information on UV protection in order to best protect children and young people.

In light of what is happening on Sylt, efforts to improve UV protection in schools and daycare centers are more important than ever. The incidents clearly show that it is not just about sun and fun, but also about the safety and health of our children.