Sunburned boys air-lifted to Galveston's Shriner's Hospital

Little 7 year old Conner and his brother, 5 year old Trey, are at Shriners Children's Hospital, where medical experts are treating their second and third-degree sunburns. 

It appears that they were not wearing any sun protection, during a long visit to an outdoor "splash pad," under the supervision of their Tulsa-area day care called "Happiness is a Learning Center." The sunburns they sustained have triggered a police investigation, and a Health and Human Services investigation. 

The day care has shut down, as a result of this incident.

Their mother and grandfather were shocked when the boys returned home, and developed swelling, blisters and other serious symptoms.  Wayne Broadway said little Conner told him he was having a hard time breathing.  The swelling on his chest was unbearable for the little boy.  After attempting to receive care at Tulsa-area clinics, they went to a hospital that recognized the severity of the burns, and had the boys flown to Shriners, which specializes in treating the most serious burns, along with orthopedic trauma, in children.

Just one blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma, the deadliest of all skin cancers.  It is a sobering reminder that protecting children with sunscreen can be a life-saving endeavor.

Fox 26 News has been told the boys should only be in the hospital for a few days, and will then be able to go home, where they can continue to heal.