July is UV Safety Month! Car safety extends beyond seat belts, airbags, and regular maintenance, to your skin. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which reaches us in the form of UVB and UVA rays, is associated with most skin cancer cases. Glass can only effectively block UVB rays, leaving us exposed to UVA even inside a car. To help prevent some of this exposure to UVA, car windshields have been partially treated to help filter out some of that UVA radiation. However, the side windows and rear windows are unprotected, leaving passengers exposed. Luckily, there is a solution to this problem! Transparent window film will screen out nearly all of the UVB and UVA rays without compromising visibility. Window film is available in all 50 states, but if you have it installed remember: it only works when the windows are rolled up.
“But it’s summer!” I hear you say, “Now is the time for cruising with the windows down and the music up!” Well, that’s why we have sunscreen; keep a bottle of sunscreen with an SPF of 15+ with you in the car for long drives. You should also try and find a sunscreen with some combination of UVA-blocking ingredients such as avobenzone, titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, ecamsule, and oxybenzone. Drivers should be especially vigilant about protecting their heads and necks from UV exposure. If your car has a sunroof or a convertible top, you should wear a wide-brimmed hat while driving or at least apply sunscreen to your neck, face, and any exposed areas on the scalp.
This summer, keep a sun protection travel kit in your car consisting of a hat, sunscreen, and UV-blocking sunglasses to enjoy a sun-safe journey!
Safe travels,
The AA Muffler and Brakes Team