Avobenzone…1.5%
Homosalate…15%
Octisalate…5%
Octocrylene…1.25%
Oxybenzone…6%
As someone who has swum for over a decade, played water-polo and served as a lifeguard at the Beckman High School pool, I am no stranger to the ingredients listed above. The seriousness of melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma is something that is too often ignored. Moreover, it may seem like a specious example, but I feel that my passion for swimming and helping kids understand the dangers of skin cancer can be encapsulated, literally and metaphorically, in one little bottle of — sunscreen.
Fast forward to my time as a certified lifeguard, I would sit on a high-chair with zinc on my nose and with my trusty floaty by my side. Of course, I was always scanning and searching for that one kid who ran instead of walked. However, my fondest memories were with many of my elementary school kids who would run up and talk to me. Most of the time, I would find out that the child did not have any sunscreen on.
Now, I am not getting paid for this endorsement, but I feel that the Neutrogena CoolDry Sport Sunscreen found at Target for $10.99 plus tax is my “go-to” product for many of my young and adult swimmers. I always have two-cans in my knapsack. As I would spray my “little ones” with sunscreen, I always reminded them of my favorite motto, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for sunscreen!” Most of my little kids would laugh, the teenagers would give me an eye-roll and the parents would chuckle — but you know what — it worked!
Looking back on my time as a swimmer, water-polo player, and lifeguard, I fully understand that my contribution to my community might be somewhat less significant when compared to other people’s volunteer/community experiences. However, I hope that, in some small way, my motto helped educate our visitors in regards to the importance of the largest organ of the human body. Ultimately, a spray here and a spray there during my shift at the local community pool helped make swimming both an entertaining and healthy experience.