6/29/12 New Sunscreen Labels

Effective this week, the FDA has issued new guidelines for sunscreen labels, and there are several major changes that you need to know about.

• No more SPF 100. Often, people grab whatever sunscreen is labeled with the highest SPF and assume it's the best protection out there. It was that misleading fact that sparked the FDA to make "SPF 50+" the highest rating allowed on a product. Why? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, an SPF 15 product blocks 93 percent of UV rays,  SPF 30 blocks 97 percent, and SPF 50 blocks 98%, but once you go up to SPF 100 that number stays at 98%. However, the FDA will allow an SPF of higher than 50 if the company can prove that a product provides more protection than SPF 50. So far, none have been able to do so.

• No more "waterproof, sweatproof, and sunblock." These terms are too misleading, says the FDA. Sunblock is banned because no sunscreen can block 100 percent of the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. All products will be called sunscreens from here on out. Waterproof and Sweatproof will be banned because they imply all day protection. Sunscreens are however, permitted to claim they are Water-resistant, but they have to specify how long they protect you - either 40 or 80 minutes.

• Clear definition of "broad-spectrum." SPF technically applies only to UVB rays, which cause sunburn, not UVA rays, which cause cancer and aging. "Broad-spectrum" sunscreens theoretically protect against both, but up until now they have never had to prove it. That's changing. In order to bear the label, any sunscreen labeled SPF 15 or higher must meet wavelength tests to show that it protects against UVA rays. Sunscreens with an SPF lower than 15 won't even be allowed to bear the "broad-spectrum" label.

• New Cancer Label. Just like on cigarette boxes, certain sunscreens will now be required to have cancer-causing warning labels on them. Any sunscreen with an SPF lower than 15, along with those that don't meet the criteria for broad-spectrum, will have to be labeled: "Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert: Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging."

• Dangerous Ingredients. Even though the FDA has come out saying that certain chemicals in sunscreens are linked to causing cancerous tumors and lesions, the FDA and National Toxicology have not actually banned these ingredients. They are simply to avoid certain chemicals if you can. Oxybenzone, octisalate, octinoxate, and avobenzon are known to cause significant hormone disruptors. Retinyl palmitate is also linked to causing tumors and lesions. The Environmental Working Group recommends choosing products with one of these ingredients instead: zinc, titanium dioxide, avobenzone, or Mexoryl S. Also, the formulas in spray sunscreens can fill the air with tiny particles that EWG says can cause lung inflammation and may be carcinogenic.

The Environmental Working Group  analyzed over 800 beach and sport sunscreens, and compiled a list of the best and worst affordable sunscreens available, based off of the following:
-Good, stable sun protection,
-Fewest ingredients with toxicity concerns. Do not contain the worst offenders: retinyl palmitate and oxybenzone.
-No sprays or powders
-No SPF values above 50+

Best affordable sunscreens
Coppertone Kids Pure & Simple Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
BabyGanics Cover Up Baby Sunscreen for Face & Body, Fragrance Free, SPF 50+
Sunbow Dora the Explorer Sunscreen, Pink, SPF 30
Purple Prairie Botanicals SunStuff Mineral Lotion, SPF 30
Nature's Gate Aqua Block Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50
Solbar Shield Sunscreen, SPF 40
Caribbean Solutions Sol Kid Kare Biodegradable Sunscreen, SPF 25
Tropical Sands Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, SPF 30
KidsUV Natural Sunscreen, Blue, SPF 30
Color Me Pink Baby UV/ Kids UV 100% Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30
Alba Botanica Natural Very Emollient Sunblock, Kids Mineral Protection, SPF 30
Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Face, SPF 30+
Healing-Scents Live Long Mineral-Based Sunscreen, SPF 25
Hara Body Care Hara Sport Sunscreen, SPF 30
Vanicream Sport Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 35
EWG's list of worst sunscreens
Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock, SPF 70
Banana Boat Sport Performance Active MAX Protect Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 110
Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Spray Active, SPF 70
Wegmans Sheer Sunscreen Body Mist, SPF 55
Rite Aid Extreme Sport Continuous Spray, SPF 70+
CVS Sheer Mist Sunscreen, SPF 70
Walgreens Sheer Body Mist Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70
Coppertone Sport Clear Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 90

6/11/12 Social Media In Severe Weather

Almost everyone has lost their power at least one time or another during a weather event, but what if that power stays off for hours and hours, how do you stay informed? Your TV doesn't work, you don't have internet (unless you have a wireless card), but almost everyone has a cell phone, and a slew of those phones have social media apps.

During Tropical Storm Beryl, social media allowed the American Red Cross of Northeast Florida to provide critical information to the public, such as where shelters would be opening. They were also able to respond to questions and connect people with resources they needed.

"We were able to push out a lot of safety tips on flooding and power outages since we were not sure what would happen with the storm," said Red Cross spokeswoman Amber Bierfreund. "We had a lot of people commenting and thanking us, and forwarding messages on to their social contacts, so it was a big success. And the next time, if we have to open up shelters, it will be a fantastic avenue." 

Many people no longer have landlines in their homes, so they rely on their cellphones. However, if the power stays out, FEMA administrators say families should make alternative communication plans for when wireless networks are congested, or cell phone batteries are low.

Craig Fugate, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency explains, "When there's a big crisis, don't try to call people on your phones - text message. It's a lot faster and gets through. Use social media to update people ... and also be prepared when power outages occur how you're going to keep your electronic devices charged. Add to your evacuation kits your cell phone chargers."

If you do not have battery operated cell phone chargers, people should restrain from using their cell phones, to save whatever little battery life they have left for emergency phone calls only.

Sources: The Florida Times-Union, Reuters, NOAA, Futures Channel

6/7/12 Let Hurricane Season Begin!

Every year, when Atlantic Hurricane Seasons begins, I always put out the list of names for both basins (Atlantic and eastern Pacific), and try to determine what strength they will be and where they might hit based off of the names alone. There is nothing scientific about this process, just simply some fun. (A few storms were named prior to the seasons actually starting, so I will not put anything under those).

Atlantic Names:
Alberto- already happened so this would be cheating
Beryl- already happened so this would be cheating
Chris- I see this hitting Mexico, badly. Strong category 4, but doesn't quite make it to a Category 5.
Debby- Gibson. I grew up in the 80s, so this is vivid in my mind. Cat 1.
Ernesto- I remember the other Ernesto from 2006, and that one did some damage, so I will say Cat 2.
Florence- Henderson. Mom from Brady Bunch couldn't hurt a fly. Tropical Storm.
Gordon- This will hit Florida, but will only be a tropical storm.
Helene- Despite the sweet name, this will be our first , but only Cat 5 of the season.
Isaac- I picture this being a changer. Cat 1 up to Cat 3 for a day, then back down to Cat 1 before landfall.
Joyce- This sounds sweet and innocent, but it will end up as a Cat 4.
Kirk- I know this dates me, but I think of Kirk Cameron in Growing Pains. Mild Cat 1.
Leslie- I think of Leslie Nielsen, and some of my favorite movies. He probably would have wanted a storm named after him. Large, but not too strong, Cat 3.
Michael- This is my fiance's name, so this is a no win guess :)
Nadine- This one will hit nowhere. Just slugs along in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical Storm.
Oscar- Sounds like a sweet old grandpa, tropical storm.
Patty- Labelle. Big and powerful, but not destructive. Probably a large Cat 1, but only minor damage.
Rafael- We probably won't make it this far, but if we did, this could be a surprise strong Cat 2.
Sandy- We wont get this far down the list, but if we did, this would be tropical storm.
Tony- I think of Tony Soprano, so this might end up being a Cat 2, despite being late in the season.
Valerie- We wont get this far down the list, but if we did, this would be tropical storm.
William- Prince William is what I think of. He is handsome and nice, so a tropical storm at best.

Eastern Pacific Names:
Aletta- already happened so this would be cheating
Bud- already happened so this would be cheating
Carlotta- There have been 9 named Carlottas, but almost all of them avoided landfall. Consistency. This will be a Cat 1, but no landfall.
Daniel- Big storms always usually strike Pacific before Atlantic, so this will be a Cat 4.
Emilia- This will hit Baja California, but will only be a tropical storm.
Fabio- All I can think of is the obvious....Fabio. Can't take this seriously. Tropical Storm.
Gilma- I picture this being the first Cat 5 of the season.
Hector- I see this one going rogue, and hitting Hawaii, but only minor damage. Cat 1 at best.
Ileana- Sounds exotic....but it will do some minor damage. Cat 2.
John- Simple name, but so many things could go wrong here. This will be the second, and last Cat 5.
Kristy- This sounds nice and innocent, but it will end up as a Cat 4.
Lane- This one will be quick to form, and quick to die out, but will make it to Cat 2 strength.
Miriam- I picture this as a little old lady storm. Tropical storm, but it sticks around for a whole 5 days.
Norman- Sounds like a sweet old grandpa, tropical storm.
Olivia- I think of Olivia from Law & Order, she's a bad**s so this one will be a strong Cat 2.
Paul- I think of the alien movie Paul. This will be a Category 2 that pops up out of nowhere!
Rosa- We probably wont get this far down the list, but if we did, I could see this being a Cat 3.
Sergio- I just like saying this name. I hope we make it this far down the list just to say it. Cat 1.
Tara- Probably won't make it this far, but it could end up being a tropical storm that hits Mexico.
Vicente- Not sure how to pronounce, so it will be tricky. Weak Cat 2, down to tropical storm in 24 hours.
Willa- We wont get this far down the list, but if we did, this would be tropical storm.
Xavier- I grew up in Cincinnati, so I think of the University. They seem to have a lot of comebacks in basketball, so maybe a Cat 2 late season storm.
Yolanda- We probably wont get this far down the list, but if we did, this would be tropical storm.
Zeke- We wont get this far down the list, but if we did, this would be a weak tropical storm.

Below is a map of every tropical cyclone that formed between 1985-2005: