This is a sponsored post in partnership with Community Care Plan.
National Hat Day is more than just an opportunity to wear your favorite hat. It’s also the perfect time to talk about sun protection. This is an excellent way to both have fun with stylish or goofy hats AND share a valuable message.
Raising awareness about protecting ourselves from those harsh UV rays is especially important to me as a mom living in South Florida. Too much sun exposure for us & our kids can lead to many issues down the road & having a hat handy is one of the top ways to block out that sun – not just on National Hat Day but every day.
National Hat Day
Hats have been used for centuries years for a variety of reasons. Historically hats have been used to show status – like in the military or in churches. For the most part, the hat’s main function throughout history & all around the world has been to shade against the sun.
With so many styles, sizes & types of hats, it’s easy to overlook this basic item common to our culture. When something is this popular, you’re bound to see a holiday to recognize it – hello National Hat Day!
Is There a National Hat Day?
Yes, National Hat Day is a real thing. It takes place on January 15th every year. It’s worth noting this is different from International Hat Day, which is on November 25th. As of today, National Hat Day is not actually a national holiday enacted by Congress. However, it’s been celebrated as a fun holiday for a few years now. It’s hard to tell who created the day to begin with, but it’s recognized by many and that’s good enough for us!
How Do You Celebrate National Hat Day?
First decide on your reason for celebrating this holiday. Outside of a fun day for dressing up, you can choose to celebrate for health reasons. Wearing a hat is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself from the harshness of UV rays & that’s worth celebrating. You can easily share information about protecting our health from those harsh sun rays while you wearing your favorite hat for the day.
How Do Hats Protect Us from UV Rays?
We are exposed to most UV rays through the sun. Of course, not all sun exposure harmful, because we also get Vitamin D from the sunshine. But too much sun is dangerous & we need to be careful to limit the sunshine that reaches our skin. Hats are a great way to shade to our face, neck, and parts of our arms.
Another important note is that not all UV rays come only from the sun. You can get these from tanning beds, halogen, mercury vapor, fluorescent, and incandescent lights as well. These types of lighting are found in common places such as office buildings, schools, stadiums, etc. In other words, you’re getting more exposure than you think to those harsh rays.
How Else Can I Protect Myself from the Sun?
A hat is always my first suggestion simply because it’s quick, easy & stylish. Of course, it’s not possible to wear hats in every situation where sun protection is needed, and there are plenty of other precautions you can take to limit the UV rays absorbed by your body.
Sunblock is another great option, but it’s vital the sunblock be consistently reapplied as time passes in the sun. The time in between applications depends on the SPF level you’re using. We prefer very high SPF, so we can go longer between reapplications. If you’re unsure, check the label of your product and follow the instructions – making sure you reapply as suggested.
Other popular ways to protect yourself from the sun:
- Wear long sleeved shirts and pants to cover the most skin
- Hang out in the shade when possible
- Wear sunglasses
- Wear makeup or lotion that includes sunblock
- Limit time in the sun
- Limit indoor tanning
- Carry an umbrella
What are the Effects of Too Much Sun?
We’re all familiar with the short term effect of overexposure to the sun – a sunburn. They hurt and have a terrible list of side-effects – limited movement, blisters, dry skin, peeling, and more. Even worse, sunburns can result in sun poisoning causing major swelling in the burnt areas, vomiting, fatigue, and more. I’m sorry to say I’ve felt the effects of sun poising when I was younger & living in Texas – after having spent a summer day in the hot sun at an outdoor concert. It was just awful & felt like the flu.
But the long term effects from sun overexposure can be even more dangerous. Over time, overexposure to UV rays can result in skin cancer, loss of eyesight, early aging (wrinkles), and more. This is why it’s so important to be aware and protect ourselves as much as possible.
To learn more, visit Community Care Plan’s page with information on UV radiation. They offer more information on how to protect yourself and your family from overexposure. You’ll also find vital information about the effects of overexposure and what that could mean for your health in the future.
Thanks for joining me in celebrating National Hat Day. I hope you fun sporting your favorite hate while also spreading the importance of sun protection.
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