Skin Cancer Awareness Month - Best Sun Hats

I love May!  Why you ask? 
I’m going to give you real talk on why...

As so many of you know, SwimZip began because, well because, skin cancer sucks!

I was diagnosed with skin cancer at age 26 and, like most people who receive that diagnosis, it changed my life immediately.

I still remember exactly where I was when I got that dreaded phone call – I was in a parking garage heading to my first ever NFL game – to watch the Seattle Seahawks.

I don’t think I’ll ever forget that moment.

Tears flowed – I had no idea what an impact that call and what it meant, would have on me.

I was afraid of the sun for about a year. I hid inside. Only went running super early in the morning. Skipped tons of boating weekends. I wasn’t sure how to navigate sun protection in a world where not everyone fully understands how each time you are out in the sun, it adds up. 

I wanted to know...

Why me?

How me?

and

How will I ever enjoy the sun again? 

So, I started researching….

People say googling things can be dangerous… shoot, it really is dangerous, but it can also be a great learning tool.

One thing I learned that I really want to educate people about is that sun damage is CUMULATIVE. (Cumulative exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) increases the risk of developing skin cancer. Wear a SwimZip Sun Hat and sun screen to reduce your exposure and then enjoy your time exploring!)

So let’s talk about one of the easiest ways I found to stay sun safe and still enjoy the sun... simply wearing a sun hat. 
I truly believe starting kids young with wearing sun hats makes it so much easier for them to continue to wear as they get older. They just get used to it.  It becomes a daily protective measure that doesn’t even really need to be thought of to use. Like clicking your seatbelt on when you get into a car, wearing a sun hat from an early age helps it become a good habit.

Wearing a sun hat from an early age is one of the easiest and best ways to prevent the cumulative build-up of sun exposure damage. 

I am a mom of 3 boys, we are a family who loves to be outside – we don’t leave the house without hats on … any of us. All five of us always have a hat on if we are spending time outdoors.

We have been traveling as a family in an RV for the last 5 months, seeing so many new places and trying so many new things with our crew. One thing is certain, everywhere we go… we all have our sun hats on.  

I promise...we rock our sun protective hats, hard.

Big Bend National Park

Guadalupe National Park
You all - our hats are so comfortable that our babe falls asleep in them ALL THE TIME!

White Sands National Park

 Saguaro National Park

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. 
That’s why I love May!
It’s a month devoted to educating people to be sun safe and save lives!
It’s also one of the most beautiful months of the year... perfect month to get out and enjoy the outdoors! 

So friends - for MAY 2021...

Can we please try to toss on a hat?

Rub on a little sunscreen, just one more time? 

Maybe even slide into a rashie?

And...tell one friend about sun protection! 

If we can do this, I feel like I am doing my job. The job that became my mission at age 26 when I got that life changing phone call. 

It is never too late to be educated on sun protection!

Thanks so much!

Happy Skin Cancer Awareness Month!!!

Love and Sun Protection to all - so much!  

-Betsy