Did you know that most cases of skin cancer, including melanoma, stem from unprotected sun exposure in children under 18? The Los Angeles Unified School District is the second-largest school district in the United States, with over 500,000 students enrolled. Currently, LAUSD schools are not legally required to provide sunscreen to students upon request, even though they require all students in grades K-12 to participate in outdoor physical education classes and other activities. These classes/activities offer little to no protection from the sun, significantly increasing the risk of sunburn and other skin damage.

As a pre-med student at UCLA, I started a petition to reform LAUSD policy and demand that all schools in Los Angeles provide students with sunscreen at no cost to their families. These kids have no choice but to be outside for PE, which exposes them to harmful UV rays that can result in dangerous cancers. If preventing skin cancer in children matters to you, too, join the cause and sign the petition to require sunscreen in LAUSD schools!