August 3, 2006
New Sunscreen, Bikinis and Life Vests Aid In Maintaining Healthy Lifestyle
As awareness increases about the risks of prolonged exposure to the sun as it relates to skin cancer, American consumers soon will be able to purchase over-the-counter a new sunscreen formula recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The product known as Anthelios SX and produced by L’Oreal contains an ingredient that is said to block certain types of harmful ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun that has been linked to some types of cancer.
Produced in France, Anthelios SX is said to offer better protection from the sun when the product is properly used and sun exposure is limited. A small number of American consumers have been buying the product over the Internet and through other overseas outlets. Given the recent federal approval and effective campaigns to increase sun exposure awareness, it would appear that product sales in the U.S. should be very positive.
In a related item, the American Cancer Society also advises us to limit exposure to the sun to reduce the likelihood of certain cancers. Canadian swimsuit manufacturer Solestrom recently announced it will offer a bikini that contains a built-in electronic alarm warning the wearer of overexposure to the sun. The new swimsuit has a built-in UV meter and alarm that beeps when it detects a certain level of exposure to direct sunlight. Certainly the combination of the new UV-ray alarm equipped bikini and the new sunscreen product offers hope of offering more skin protection from sunlight.
And yet, while these two items in recent weeks have merited national and international media attention, few words seem to be written concerning development of new types and styles of life jackets and life vests. Whereas many people seem to remain familiar with the old horse-collar-type orange life vests, life jacket manufacturers have come a long way in recent years.
Not only do life jackets come in a variety of styles and colors, boaters also have a choice among different types of inflatable vests, jackets and pouches that are no more obtrusive than wearing a fanny pack or lightweight vest. U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets also come in fishing vest and waterfowl hunting coat varieties.
As with the new sunscreen product and UV-metered bikini, lifejackets equally cannot be effective if consumers don’t use them. Buying a product is simply not enough -- it must be used properly and in accordance with manufacturer specifications to be effective. It’s particularly true with the example of life jackets, which for more than a century now have been documented as effective in saving lives.
|