COPPERTONE® Launches "Making the Sunscreen Grade" To Encourage Parents To Protect Children From The Sun's UV Rays Year Round

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck Consumer Care, the makers of COPPERTONE®, launched today the "Making the Sunscreen Grade" program to equip parents with tools to help their children develop lifelong sun habits, including those that protect them from the sun during the school day, with activities like class trips and field days that typically occur this time of year. The need for the program is reinforced by a recent national survey conducted for the brand, where amongst other results nearly two-thirds of Americans did not know that many U.S. schools have rules and restrictions around the usage of sunscreen, because it is an over-the-counter drug.[1]

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130516/CG13943)

Currently, policies about sun protection, including sunscreen application, vary from state to state, and potentially even within school districts. According to the survey, Americans favor using a variety of sun protection methods in school. In fact, two out of three (67%) agree or strongly agree they would like to see schools promote the use of sunglasses, hats and sun-protective clothing during outdoor activities.[1] Additionally, 80 percent of those surveyed agree or strongly agree that schools should work with parents to make it easy for children to be protected from the sun.[1]

Although parents may be applying sunscreen to their children before they go to school, ideally it should be reapplied by the time a midday recess begins, to help reduce the risk of unsafe sun exposure and sunburns. Some schools only allow sunscreen application with written permission from a child's parent or a physician, or both. Additional reasons for rules around sun protection may include the risk for a potential allergic reaction, the question of school staff applying sunscreen to students, and in some cases, the potential cost of implementing a sun protection program.[2]

"School officials and parents recognize the importance of protecting children from the sun, but they may find policies and regulations tricky to navigate if they aren't well informed about them first," said Ana M. Duarte, MD, Division Director of Dermatology at Miami Children's Hospital and consultant to COPPERTONE®. "I'm excited to be a part of the 'Making the Sunscreen Grade' program. It educates parents about steps they can take to help protect their children during the day and invites them to partner with their schools to make sun protection and sunscreen reapplication a priority."

The "Making the Sunscreen Grade" program provides tools to help educate parents on the importance of sun protection during the school day and year-round. Starting today, a downloadable sun protection guide is available in English and Spanish at www.coppertone.com. Beginning May 1, COPPERTONE® distributed the guide to a half-million households across 10 U.S. regions. It offers tips parents can use to make sun protection a priority, including the following steps:

• Get the facts – Ask your school administrator for more information on your district's policy around sunscreen and what (if any) sun protection methods are permitted. Policies can differ, so you may want to ask if sunscreen, hats or sunglasses are allowed during outdoor activities and if any permission is necessary.

• Take action – Some schools only allow sunscreen usage with written permission from a child's parent and/or physician. Ask your school administrator and/or your child's pediatrician for guidance and make sure to get a doctor's note, if necessary. You can also work with your school to craft a sunscreen-reapplication program, keeping in mind that sunscreen must be kept out of the reach of children.

• Be prepared – Sun sense begins at home. Dress your kids in sun-protective clothing and make sunscreen application part of your morning ritual before your kids go outside and go to school.

• Talk to your kids – Remind your kids to practice sun-savvy behaviors at school, such as seeking shade and drinking plenty of water during recess and other outdoor activities.

• Stay connected – Creating a sun-smart school environment should include partnering with parents, teachers, school nurses and administrators. In some cases, simply initiating a conversation to learn more about sun protection may remind others of its importance. Consider it a potential topic for your next PTA meeting.

"As the trusted leader in sun protection, the COPPERTONE® brand is committed to helping inform and engage parents on the many situations – beyond the beach and pool – in which children need protection from the sun," said James Mackey, senior vice president and U.S. region head, Merck Consumer Care. "This program will help parents instill sun-smart habits in their children both at home and at school, no matter what the day brings, so families can enjoy their outdoor moments."

More Survey Findings
The survey also uncovered data on what steps people favor and believe are reasonable for protecting children from the sun during the school day. These findings include:

• Sixty-eight percent agree or strongly agree that they would like to see sun protection education incorporated into the school curriculum.
• Eighty-eight percent feel that it is a reasonable step to allow children to wear hats, sunglasses and sun-protective clothing when outside during the school day.
• Eighty-six percent said that arranging school grounds to provide shaded areas for recess and outdoor play is reasonable.
• About two in five of Americans (44%) believe it is a reasonable step to require an authorization note from both a parent and a doctor to reapply sunscreen to a child in school.[1]

For more information on the "Making the Sunscreen Grade" program, please visit the COPPERTONE® website at www.coppertone.com.

About the Survey
The survey was conducted by ORC International on behalf of Merck Consumer Care, the makers of COPPERTONE®, among a representative sample of 1,007 adults ages 18 and older. The survey was fielded over the phone between March 7 and 10, 2013.

About Merck Consumer Care
Today's Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck Consumer Care is a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. Each day, millions count on one or more of our industry-leading brands that help prevent or treat various common conditions. These include household names such as CLARITIN® for allergies, COPPERTONE® for sun care, DR. SCHOLL'S® for foot care and many more. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Merck Forward-Looking Statement
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of Merck's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approval; Merck's ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of Merck's patents and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

Merck undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in Merck's 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov).

COPPERTONE® is a registered trademark of MSD Consumer Care, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.

SOURCE Merck Consumer Care, Inc.

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