Because we live in the coronavirus pandemic age, there are many new norms in the world today. They include mask-wearing, social distancing, and applying plenty of hand sanitizer. Adhering to these precautions has changed the face of travel.
To say that people are now seeing the world differently is an understatement. RV sales jumped by 4.5 percent in 2020 as people opted for national rather than international travel. And boating excursions have also increased as travelers look for safer ways to engage in adventure.
Sailing away remains one of the best ways to practice social distancing when out and about. Just don't forget about other safety concerns such as sun exposure. It's easy to get so caught up in remembering your mask that you neglect these other vital areas.
Keep reading to learn more about BloqUV sun protective clothing and how it can ensure safe travels.
Sailing Away
The enforced isolation of the pandemic has led many travelers and families to seek new means of adventuring. Like RV sales, boat sales have gone through the roof.
After all, other events that marked summer vacation, such as sports leagues and summer camps, are no longer advisable. Fortunately, boat activities provide the perfect solution when it comes to how to entertain the family while avoiding crowds and highly frequented places.
How much have boating sales gone up? Dealers report sales up by 70 percent since the late spring, and there's no sign that this new passion for boating will cool anytime soon.
That said, boating comes with some vital safety precautions that you don't want to neglect. These include wearing life vests and keeping your eye on evolving weather conditions. You should also keep sunscreen handy as well as protective UV gear.
Boating and UV Protection
Sun safety remains one of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of boat safety. After all, you can't rely on shade when you're out on open water.
Because of the fun nature of boat-related activities, it's also easy to misjudge how long you've been out. Aft real, activities such as tubing, cruising, anchoring, entertaining, and lounging accumulate quickly.
What many people don't realize is that just 15 minutes of sun exposure can damage your skin. Yet, the average boater spends 5.7 hours out on the water! What's more, they set sail between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm, hours that correspond with UV peak times.
What's more, eight percent of boaters report partaking in sunbathing while out on the water. Considering the fact UV rays reflect off the water, exacerbating their potential for damage, you need to take the necessary precautions.
Sun Protection While on the Water
What's the best way to protect you and your family from sun damage? You must take steps to avoid sun burning. Sunburns increase your chances of developing skin cancer significantly, so the younger you are when you start taking precautions, the better.
That means applying a high-quality sunscreen regularly when sailing. Apply it generously and make sure it offers protection of at least SPF 15. How often should reapply sunscreen?
Here's a good rule of thumb. Apply approximately one ounce of sunscreen on all exposed skin 20 minutes before heading outside. Don't neglect to do this on cloudy days, too, when the sun's rays get reflected off clouds and can up your odds of getting burned.
Remember to reapply sunscreen often, especially after activities that make you sweat or swimming. Whenever possible, seek shade, especially from 10 am to 4 pm when UV rays prove strongest.
Remember to remain cautious around water and sand. Both of these substances are highly reflective and can strengthen the rays of the sun, leading to increased sunburn risks.
Always check the UV Index as it provides vital information about how to avoid sun overexposure. This index gets issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Weather Service.
You should also remember to exercise extra caution when boating at higher altitudes. Why? Because elevation gain ramps up your odds of getting sunburned. For every 1,000 feet of gain in elevation, your chances of damage from UV exposure increase by four percent.
Last but not least, you should also invest in sun protective clothing.
Why You Need Sun Protective Clothing
While we've focused on COVID-19 over recent months, other diseases such as skin cancer remain shockingly prevalent in the United States. Every day, more than 9,000 Americans receive a diagnosis of skin cancer.
Skin cancer remains one of the most common forms of cancer in our nation today.
How do you protect your family from damaging UV rays? One of the best ways remains purchasing UPF clothing. What is UPF clothing?
UPF denotes clothing designed to protect you from the sun. Like sunscreen, this clothing gets a rating. That way, you know exactly how much protection it provides you with.
Accounting for both UVA and UVB light, ratings start at 15 and go up to 50+. Avoid clothing that falls below the 15 rating as it won't provide much in the way of protection at all.
That said, a rating of 15 is considered decent. A rating of 40 or above is highly protective, and you'll still enjoy plenty of sun-shielding benefits with clothes in the 25 to 35 rating range.
Sun protective clothing represents an excellent way to ramp up skin protection while boating. What's more, this chemical-free sun protection proves excellent for those with sensitivities to the chemicals found in many sunscreen products.
Check out these high-performance sun protective men's clothes, women's clothes, and children's clothes to get started.
The Coronavirus Pandemic and Sailing
As more Americans take to the water in the name of adventure, sun protection should represent one of their primary concerns. Fortunately, by following the tips listed above and investing in sun protective clothing, you can ensure the safety of your family when sailing away.
Are you ready to start shopping for one of the best sun protective clothing brands on the market today? Check out our our entire collection now.