When Sunscreen Causes Personal Injury
Skin care experts warn people to use sunscreen to protect against the harmful rays of the sun but what happens when sunscreen causes personal injury? An article published in Canada in May, 2017 shares an interview with a mom who claims that Banana Boat sunscreen severely burned her toddler. Rebecca Cannon of Botwood, Newfoundland claims that the brand’s aerosol Broad Spectrum SPF 50 kid’s sunscreen left her 14-month old daughter with second-degree burns. Her daughter’s skin became redder and redder throughout the day and the next morning her skin was bright red and swollen with blisters. A doctor confirmed that her daughter was experiencing a second-degree burn, possibly from a severe allergic reaction to the sunscreen.
For their part, Edgewell Personal Care who manufactures Banana Boat sunscreen in Canada offered to reimburse Rebecca for the product and released the following statement:
“We take all of our consumer’s concerns seriously and investigate all cases when we are contacted. We work diligently to provide high-quality Banana Boat sun protection products and we are greatly concerned when any person encounters a reaction using our products. We have spoken with the consumer and asked for the product so that our quality assurance team can look into this further. Without examining the product, it is difficult to determine what may have caused the problem as described. Like all products available in Canada, all Banana Boat products in the United States also undergo rigorous testing to ensure they are appropriately labeled and meet all relevant health regulations, including SPF tests.”
Banana Boat sunscreen recalls
Energizer Holdings, maker of Banana Boat sunscreen in the U.S. has recalled 23 varieties of its aerosol spray-on sunscreens due to a fire hazard and several reports of users that ended up with second and third degree burns when the sunscreen caught fire on their skin. The recall includes the Banana Boat sunscreen varieties: UltraMist Kids, UltraMist Sport and UltraMist Ultra Defense and affects about 500,000 million bottles of the aerosol sunscreen. You can reach the manufacturer for more information at 1-800-SAFESUN.
For its part, Health Canada began an investigation into the safety of Banana Boat Sunscreen in May, 2017 after three complaints about the product causing second degree burns or blisters in their infants or toddlers. No product recall has been issued to date in Canada.
How to stay safe in the sun
The best way to protect yourself and your children from the sun is to stay in the shade between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If you are out in direct sunlight, wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses and protective clothing. Infants six months and younger should not wear any sunscreen; shade and protective clothing or light weight blankets are essential for time spent outside in the sun. Mineral based sunscreen may be a good alternative to regular sunscreen but it should only be used as a secondary defense after protective clothing, etc.
If you or a loved one was injured by sunscreen it is important to report these injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) uses reports of defective products to track data that is then used to ensure that dangerous products get removed from the market.
If you or a loved one is dealing with an accident or injury, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
