My little boy came home from school trip with 2nd degree BURNS after he was left to fry in 30C heat with no suncream
Simon Oakley claims his 12-year-old son Oliver came home from Barcelona with agonising second degree burns.
4
4
4
4
The Parklands High School pupil set off for Spain from Chorley, Lancashire, for a week-long holiday with classmates and spent nearly 24 hours travelling to the country via coach.
But fuming dad Simon says the nightmare happened on the final day when the school trip took them to a water park.
Simon, a self-employed furniture maker, said: "When I saw how bad the burns were, I was extremely upset.
'I feel incredibly let down and disappointed with the school.
'Oliver told me that the sunburn happened on the final day. The kids spent the full day at a water park.
'We later learned from Oliver that he hadn't had any sun cream on all day and wasn't wearing a T-shirt or a hat."
Simon continued: 'This left him fully exposed to the 30-degree sun and heat.
'We found out about his sunburn on Thursday evening while he was travelling back.
'He sent us a few messages saying his shoulders and back were really sore, and even did a short video so his mum and I could see how red and blistered his skin was.
'Over the next 48 hours, the blisters got much worse and new ones kept developing.'
I laid on the beach for just ONE hour but the sunburn was brutal and left me looking like a wasp-stung dog - don't make my mistake
Simon claims Oliver was given paracetamol and heavy-duty plasters were applied to his burns but the youngster was in 'agony' by the time he got home.
Oliver's parents rushed him to Preston Royal Hospital for treatment.
Nurses allegedly confirmed that the burns were of a second degree nature and popped his blisters before peeling away the damaged skin.
Simon said: 'They headed home straight from the water park at around tea time.
'It was only on the bus journey back, which took over 24 hours, that the burns and blisters started to develop and he was in agony for the majority of the journey back.
'He did let the teachers know towards the end of the journey, and they stuck some plasters on his blisters and gave him a paracetamol.'
The family have since lodged a formal complaint with the school.
'SCREAMING IN AGONY'
Simon was left unimpressed with the school's response to the situation, he claimed: 'They gave him some paracetamol and then applied heavy-duty plasters to the blisters.
'The plasters had to be peeled off the next day at hospital, which left Oliver screaming in agony and in tears on the floor.
'I submitted a formal complaint to the school. The headteacher phoned me back but I was essentially told there was nothing more that could have been done for my son - even though seven teachers were on the trip.'
Parklands High School were contacted for comment on multiple occasions but a reporter was told over the phone by a receptionist that 'no one was available' to comment.
Oliver went on the school trip on May 24 to May 30.
But his dad says it has taken the child's skin 'about a month' to 'get back to normal' and he has some very faint scars from the burns.
Simon added: 'He's okay now but is a little wary about going out in the sun because of what happened.
"I just want other parents to know this can happen and schools need to take sun safety seriously.
'No child should come home in that kind of pain after what's meant to be a fun trip."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
People are divided over plane passenger's life-saving nuts request
Dan Kelly has to be cautious when he's flying because of his severe nut allergy. In a video, posted to his TikTok account @_maycontain, Dan can be seen onboard an easyJet flight, asking the cabin crew whether it's okay to make an announcement to the whole plane to warn them the flight should be nut-free for his safety. In the clip, the flight attendant can be seen asking Dan whether he has an EpiPen - which he confirms he does - and where he's sitting. Dan captioned the video: 'I love it when flight attendants understand straight away. 'Surely people can go without nuts for a few hours if it could save someone's life! 'Honestly, I don't understand why some people still don't take food allergies seriously. 'If it were you or your child living with a life-threatening allergy, you'd hope others would show a bit more empathy and recognize just how serious it really is!' But, while most people were very sympathetic towards Dan, he revealed the video 'caused quite a stir' and he received some very negative comments from 'a few small-minded people who seem to have nothing better to do than try to provoke a reaction'. One of the comments was: 'I would make all people with allergies sit in a toilet the whole flight. So annoying as I love peanuts with my Gin and tonic.' Another added: 'One person shouldn't dictate what a plane load of people can and cannot eat.' A third passenger agreed: 'I'd be the first to open up a packet of peanut m&ms. Just because I can!' And another troll wrote: 'I always eat Snickers on planes. Nobody tells me not to eat.' But Dan took these negative comments in his stride and said: 'I think it really highlights just how much misunderstanding still exists around allergies even if it's just a small group of people, the lack of seriousness in society is still very real.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Woman using weight loss jab Mounjaro reveals shocking side affect that left her permanently struggling to eat
A woman using popular weight loss medication Mounjaro has opened up about a shocking side affect that left her permanently struggling to eat. Kelly started taking the jabs in October after a decade of trying and failing to lose weight and being told she was at risk of developing type two diabetes. The 32-year-old was thrilled to find the pounds dropping off her, but after a few months on it, she noticed a rather unwelcome change: her taste buds had been completely ruined. Now, Kelly explained that she's 'instantly put off' of any food she tries to consume, and even when she is 'starving,' she says nothing sounds appealing. 'Mounjaro has completely changed my taste buds,' the talent executive, from the UK, told NeedToKnow recently. 'I have gone off the taste of food. When I eat, it's because I need it – and not because I enjoy the taste. 'It gets to around 1pm and my belly will rumble, and I'm aware that I'm hungry, but when I make myself a meal – no matter what it is – as soon as I have a bite, I'm instantly put off. 'All of a sudden, I feel full and don't like the taste of what I'm eating. 'If I'm eating a ham sandwich, all I taste is the bread and meat – but I won't enjoy the combination.' Kelly explained that she used to love eating, but now she disdains the entire process and has to force herself to get a few bites in purely for subsistence. 'When I was overweight, I was eating sandwiches and multipacks of [chips] in between meals,' she continued. 'I used to be able to eat, and eat, and eat without ever being full or satisfied. I would eat dinner and order a takeaway straight after! 'I ate purely for enjoyment. Everything that touched my lips was the best thing I'd eaten – and now even a takeaway pizza, which was my go-to, doesn't taste the same.' As soon as she prepares even her favorite dishes, Kelly said she immediately finds she no longer wants the food. 'I know I have to eat. I am trying to avoid food I know I won't like, for example meat and eggs,' she added. 'But if I have to, I force it down because I know my body needs it. Protein shakes have been a life saver for me.' Now, Kelly explained that she's 'instantly put off' of any food she tries to consume, and even when she is 'starving,' nothing sounds appealing. She's seen before and after her weight loss Kelly has been documenting her Mounjaro journey on TikTok, and she recently went viral after she spoke about the shocking affect it has had on her taste buds. In the clip, which garnered 230,000 views, she spoke about how it was 'such a struggle' for her to eat since she no longer enjoys the taste of food. She tried foods including spaghetti Bolognese, sushi, a protein bar and strawberries – and was seen visibly disgusted by most of them, particularly the sushi. Kelly, who has lost just over 50 pounds since starting the drug in October, explained that despite the change to her taste buds, she is happy that it's helped he drop from a size 18 to 12. She said: 'Regardless of what I am going through, I'm continuing to buy it because I'm losing weight, I'm almost at my goal.' Kelly says her quality of life has increased massively since shedding the excess weight. She explained that it's also boosted her self esteem, with her now weighing just 161 pounds and fitting into clothes she never thought she could. She said: 'When I was overweight, I was looking into weight loss surgeries and receiving counselling for my self-esteem. 'I now look in the mirror and I don't completely hate myself. I receive compliments all the time about how much better I look and it really boosts my mood. 'I can fit into clothes I never thought I could instead of just wearing black baggy clothes all the time. 'I can run up a flight of stairs without almost dying at the top. I can now play with my children without being out of breath and I am no longer ashamed to be in pictures with them.' In the end, she said she is trying to view the change to her taste buds as a good thing because it stops her from overeating. 'I feel like it has massively changed my relationship with food – I've learned that food is a need, not a want,' she concluded. 'I don't need to eat for the taste and I don't let it rule my life. I eat and I get on with my day. 'Whereas before I would lie in bed at night and think about what I was having for dinner the next day.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
I'm a neurologist - these are eight simple steps I used to slow my mother's dementia
A leading neuroscientist has revealed the eight daily habits she encourages her elderly mother to follow in a bid to slow the progression of dementia—and says they could change the way we think about the condition. Professor Catherine Loveday, 56, a specialist in memory and ageing at the University of Westminster, turned to her own research when her mother, Scillia, began showing early signs of Alzheimer's. Diagnosed in 2017 at the age of 70, Scillia's symptoms were initially so subtle doctors might not have picked them up for another six or seven years. But her daughter noticed she had started to repeat herself—and, armed with expert knowledge, acted fast. Now 85, Scillia still lives independently and enjoys a good quality of life—something Professor Loveday credits to a set of evidence-based lifestyle interventions designed to support brain health. Speaking to The Times, she said: 'My work has taught me that there are science-backed steps we can all take to improve our brain health. '[This is] not only through more exercise, better diet and improved sleep, but by keeping the stress and anxiety that accompany memory loss under control.' Stress, she explained, raises levels of inflammatory markers in the body—which may in turn accelerate cognitive decline. Professor Loveday is now sharing the routine she developed with her mother in the hope that it will help others feel empowered to act early and do everything they can to protect memory and mental clarity. Then, despite having always been fiercely independent, she got lost on her daily walk––a red-flag warning sign of cognitive decline. Determined to get a clearer picture of what was going on, Prof Loveday had her mum complete a battery of memory tests used by the NHS to test for dementia. This revealed both her strengths, such as short-term memory recall and her weaknesses. Whilst Scilia had no problem recalling a list of words her daughter had just said, when she was asked to recall the same words just half an hour later after reading a story, she performed worse than nearly 100 per cent of people. According to Prof Loveday, this proved that her prefrontal cortex––the area of the brain responsible for problem-solving––was functioning well but the part of the brain that deals with memory was lacking. This is one of the first tell-tale signs of Alzheimer's disease. This is then followed by problems with thinking and reasoning and language difficulties which worsen over time. But, if anything Prof Loveday was 'relieved' by the results as she knew this meant they could 'do something about it'. She said: 'The measures we took have slowed decline but her Alzheimer's obviously continues to progress. 'Mum now has limited access to her past memories, but the work we did means we know exactly what makes her feel happy and we put that into practice every day. 'Last time I was with her, I asked, 'How do you feel?' and she said, 'Relaxed and at peace,' and I don't think we can ask for more. 'We were able to really make a difference.' Here's exactly what you can do to boost your quality of life and stave off to Prof Loveday. Journal every evening To keep your brain active in old age, Prof Loveday recommends jotting down everything you did today before going to bed. Doing this forces the brain to practice 'spaced repetition'––a learning technique that is known to improve memory by reviewing information at intervals. And it can be 'transformational', Prof Loveday claims. Boost your social battery According to Loveday, maintaining friendships is vital for healthy cognitive function, lowering stress and easing anxiety which in turn reduces inflammation in the body that is known to impact the progression of the disease. Write it down and don't be afraid to rely on technology One of the most fool-proof ways to remember something is writing it down and this isn't something to be ashamed of, Prof Loveday says. She found that getting her mother to write things down that she needed to remember that day on a whiteboard in the kitchen really helped slow down the progression of the disease . And whilst it may seem like a tedious task, Prof Loveday says one of the best things you can do for someone with a degenerative memory condition is teach them how to use Google Maps. 'One of the worse things you can do when lost is panic', she said. But this is also works both ways, so for her own peace of mind as a carer she also turned on the tracking system on her mother's phone so she can easily see where she is if needs be. Curate old memories Typically, Alzheimer's patients will have a good grasp on their early memories so sparking a conversation about the good old days can help preserve identity. Prof Loveday said: 'Nostalgic conversations––about music and scratchy school uniforms––are powerful social connectors. 'I know from my research if you ask people to give their eight favourite songs, often one or two will prompt memories about a specific moment that was transitional or important in terms of who you became.' Get your steps in It is a well-known fact that upping your exercise quota can help stave off Alzheimer's in later life, boosting proteins in the brain that support cognitive function. Even just going for a walk is great says Prof Loveday, because navigating stimulates the part of the brain responsible for memory. Cut down on sugar and have a good bedtime routine Experts have long proposed that diets high in healthy fats and polyphenols––found in things like dark green leafy vegetables––can help support brain health. Conversely, it is well-known that sugar can have an inflammatory effect on the body, causing glucose spikes which have been shown to reduce cognitive function. Prof Loveday suggests eating more vegetables, berries rich in antioxidants and foods high in omega-3s such as oily fish or nuts and seeds. There is also surmounting evidence that too much or too little sleep can raise dementia risk. Plan for the future now Whilst it can be hard talking about future plans in terms of care, Prof Loveday advises getting the conversation out of the way as soon as possible, before the disease progresses further. Get your eyes and ears tested Finally Prof Loveday suggests getting your hearing and vision tested regularly to keep dementia at bay––and at least once every two years for people over 60, in line with NHS guidelines. It is believed that tackling hearing loss early could delay the development of dementia for a number of years, though the exact reasoning is not yet fully understood by experts. But, hearing loss is not an inevitable part of ageing and this simple step could help millions reduce their risk of dementia.
