National Sunscreen Day 2025
I recall the summer I got fried in Key West.It was summer and I was working in the Emergency Room when some in my cohort said how nice it would be to visit Key West. Me, being the shortsighted fellow I was quickly joined the misguided affair and we headed down South some seventeen hours packed in Jim Megg's Toyota like sardines.
Upon our arrival, we pitched our tent on a nice breezy outcropping and proceeded to fry like pieces of bacon in the white hot blistering Florida sunshine.
I had a short visit with my childhood friends, Mr and Mrs Rudy Gagnon over at Aster Terrace in Key Haven which was a short trot accross US1 on Stock Island (Raccoon Key) to there and back to the campground.
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We went to an emergency room somewhere in Florida which declined to accept our insurance because they said it wouldn't cover "sunburn".
I checked the coverage when we got back and was told it would have covered everything 100 percent.
When we returned we went straight to the Emergency Room where we all worked and they treated my second degree sunburn as they yelled at me for being so stupid and advised me regarding the dangers of skin cancer and it's association to too much sun ...
Anyway a couple days later I was all better, had quit my whining, and got back to the business of my go nowhere county hospital job.
Today is National Sunscreen Day.
It is observed each May 27 and gives rise to the notion that UV radiation is a constant danger to human beings with sunscreen being the number one weapon in the battle against UV radiation caused skin cancers.
Go Figure.
Anyway I never forayed into the sun again and have pretty much lived with skin as white as a dead fish since then. Not to mention that my legs can now light the insides of caves.
These sunscreen products have an effectiveness rating called "SPF" aka "Skin Protection Factor". The higher the SPF the greater the protection from UV radiation while you're outside. I don't use these products anymore because I use a different chemical inhibitor called Super Oxide Dismutase to block the harmful effects of UV skin damage. However, in the absence of SOD I would indeed use a sunscreen product in most likely a lotion form.
Happy National Sunscreen Day and watch out. Everything that is good for you may harm you if indulged to excess. Sunlight is no different.