2013 Hat Day in the Sun

 

The Headwear Association Launches Sixth Annual Hat Day in the Sun

FREE Sun Protection Hats  Distributed Nationwide 

 

 

 

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers, and 90 percent of all skin cancers are caused by sun over-exposure. The Headwear Association (THA) hosted their sixth annual “Hat Day in the Sun” on Wednesday, June 26th, to help arm people in the fight against skin cancer.

 

Hat Day in the Sun is an annual national public awareness campaign to educate adults and children that the right hat can protect against skin cancer, sun damage, and premature aging. To celebrate this event, THA members gave away FREE wide-brimmed sun-protection hats in cities across the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Boulder and Detroit.

 

The free hats were provided by Broner Hats, Dorfman-Pacific, Bollman Hat Company, Magid Hats, Wallaroo Hats, Korber Hats and San Diego Hat Company.

 

 

For one THA member, this year’s event had a special significance.  Bob Broner, owner of Broner hats, was just diagnosed in May 2013 with Early Detection Stage One Melanoma.  “I just turned 50 and I went for a routine check-up and they found I had melanoma,” said Broner. “I am going to be fine, but it’s scary. People die from melanoma. I urge everyone to get yearly screenings. And people should start realizing that a wide-brimmed hat and 30+ SPF lotion are mandatory if you are going to be outside.”

 

 Melanoma is on the rise.  The American Cancer Society's estimates for melanoma in the U.S. for 2013:

 

•About 76,690 new melanomas will be diagnosed (about 45,060 in men and 31,630 in women). The rates of melanoma have been rising for at least 30 years.

 

•About 9,480 people are expected to die of melanoma (about 6,280 men and 3,200 women).

 

 

 

 

What makes a perfect Sun Hat?  The Headwear Association recommends the following tips:

• Wide Brims.  Choose hats with at least a 2 ½ inch brim and always wear sunscreen and a hat when outside. Women’s hats with brims larger than 5 inches also offer shoulder and décolletage protection from the sun.

•   Curved Shapes.  Look for hats that follow the contour of the head and neck. These shapes offer the best protection against ultraviolet radiation. A baseball cap is not recommended as it leaves the cheeks, ears and back of the neck exposed.

• Opaque Materials.  The denser the fabric, the higher the UPF. Choose close-weave fabrics or tightly woven straw. Many hats have been tested for sun protection qualities, and include an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) number on the label.   Fabrics are rated with a UPF rather than SPF, which only applies to sunscreens. UPF labels indicate how much of the sun's UVR is absorbed by the product's fabric. For instance, a hat with a UPF of 50 allows just 1/50th of the sun's UVR to reach the skin.

 

Enjoy some pictures from different locations during Hat Day in the Sun 2013!

 

Detroit, MI 

 

 

 

 

Harlem, New York

 

 

 

Stockton, CA

 

 

 

Boston, MA

 

 

For more information about sun protection hats visit www.TheHeadwearAssociation.org.