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Updating Your Space for Fall with Photos

The days are growing shorter, the air is becoming crisper, and that can only mean one thing: fall is upon us! As we begin to transition to boots and cozy sweaters, it’s also an excellent time to look at updating our space for the fall season too. Especially with the number of Zoom calls and meetings happening from our homes these days, many of us have become acutely aware of how bare our walls are (or how much they could use an update!).

A quick and easy way to breathe new life into your space while also adding some seasonal flair is with some of your own fall photos. Our Photolab has all kinds of options to help you decorate, from beautiful glossy and pearl enlargements to fine art prints like canvas, metallic paper, Kauai and Baryta, which will give your walls an impressive gallery-quality look. Keep reading below to see how some local photographers are updating their space for fall, and find out how you can enter for a chance to win a stunning print from photographer Sonika Arora!

Ashlyn George’s fall photos were taken on a Sony A7III and DJI Mavic 2 and printed on pearl photo paper.

Saskatoon-based adventurer/photographer Ashlyn George of The Lost Girl’s Guide updated her office space for fall with some beautiful landscape images she’s taken. If you’re spending more time in your home office this fall, framing some photos is an easy way to make your space feel cozier and welcoming (so you won’t mind spending more time there!).

“It was perfect timing with the change of season to update the photos in my home office. When not outside adventuring, I like to surround myself with as many reminders of the outdoors as possible. Each image I chose to print from London Drugs Photolab is very personal. I photographed one of my family’s wheat fields during harvest and paired it with a series of photos from an autumn road trip I took to Alaska a few years ago. Images were shot on with my Sony A7II and DJI Mavic 2 and printed with a matte Pearl finish.” – Ashlyn George, The Lost Girl’s Guide

If you’re planning to display your fall photos in a frame, then our pearl prints are a great choice (you’ll want to avoid overly glossy print surfaces when framing). They have a slight satin feel and will give your images a smooth, professional look. Order pearl prints of your own fall photos here.

Lisa Bourgeault’s fall photo was taken on a Canon EOS 6D Mark II camera with a 24-105mm lens and printed on fine art canvas.

Calgary-based photographer Lisa Bourgeault is giving her walls a seasonal touch with a vibrant photo of the changing leaves with the city of Calgary as her backdrop. Her photo was printed on our fine art canvas, and like all of our prints, our Photolab Technicians hand-inspected the image after printing on our state-of-the-art Epson 9000 large format printer.

“This is one of my favourite fall pictures. It was taken early September in Calgary, just at the beginning of fall, but the fall colours had already started to appear and having taken it at sunrise, it just feels magical with all the vibrant colours. I chose to print this picture on canvas because I like the look and feel of it, and I just like the way it looks while hanging up on my wall. It’s really nice to have my picture printed and hung up and being able to see it every day.” – Lisa Bourgeault

If you want to give your wall décor a truly fine art look, we highly recommend trying our canvas prints. Matte canvas prints are water-resistant and composed of 35% cotton with a 65% polyester blend, giving them a uniform finish. They’re professional grade canvas for any giclee print that needs the very best substrate. We print your image on the canvas using a special pigment, right to the edges, so you can frame it flat or stretch it yourself. Order a canvas print of one of your own fall photos here.

Sonika Arora’s fall photo was taken on a Nikon D800 camera with a 24-70mm 2.8 lens and printed as a glossy enlargement.

Vancouver-based photographer Sonika Arora has a brand new print to give her space a refresh! Her image of the fall leaves in Stanley Park was printed by our Photolab as a glossy enlargement.

“This photograph was captured in Stanley Park on an early fall morning at sunrise. What drew me to composing this particular frame was how the seawall was blanketed in beautiful fall foliage. I wanted to capture both the leaves and the iconic city view, so I decided to frame the shot from a low perspective. I feel this composition not only showcases the leaves, but it simultaneously draws the viewer’s eyes in towards the city skyline further creating a great balance for a classic fall scene in Vancity.” – Sonika Arora

Glossy prints tend to enhance the contrast in images, making the colours in your photos even more vibrant: perfect for your most colourful fall images! Order a glossy enlargement of one of your own fall photos here. Our HD Pro Glossy prints are also an excellent option – learn more about what sets them apart here.

Start updating your space with photos

Feeling inspired and ready to add some fall festiveness to your bare walls? To get started, upload your fall photos to our Photolab website, or download our London Drugs Photolab App (available for iOS and Android) on your tablet or smartphone to quickly and easily order prints for your space. Need some help with your order? Our LDExperts are always ready to help in-store in the Photolab.

If you’re looking to capture some new fall photos this season, make sure you check out our blog post here with photography tips to help you capture the beauty of fall.

Enter for a chance to win a special fall print

Photographer Sonika Arora will be giving away a print of one of her beautiful fall photos, printed by our Photolab, to one lucky follower on Instagram! The winner will be able to choose either a glossy or pearl enlargement greater than 12×18 in size, up to a value of $99. The print will feature Sonika’s image of fall foliage in Stanley Park that you see above – what a great way to freshen up your space for the fall season!

The giveaway will kick off on the first day of fall, September 22. Make sure you’re following @LDPhotolab and @SonikaArora604 on Instagram, so you’ll know as soon as the giveaway goes live!

5 Reasons to Personalize a Photo Calendar

Move over generic kitten and puppy calendars, there’s a better way to keep track of all your most important life events, activities and appointments while also showcasing your favourite photos: a fully personalized photo calendar!

While we’ve been offering personalized photo calendars for years, you’ll now have even more options than ever, thanks to our newly launched sizes for centre coil bound calendars. They are now available in 6”x6”, 8”x8”, 10”x10”, 14”x11” and 12”x12” (as well as a premium 12”x12”) and come ready-to-hang. Turnaround time on these centre coil bound calendars is 5 to 7 business days.

All of our calendars also now offer the option to type in special dates on each month as well as personalize those dates with a chosen image. They also have different templates you can use to personalize each month with multiple images – the perfect solution for when you can’t choose just one photo. Our calendars are also available in both English and French. And don’t forget – all of our calendars can be customized to start on any month!

There are lots of reasons to personalize your own photo calendars, but here are our top 5:

1. It Will Keep Your Family Organized

Keeping track of a whole family’s worth of schedules is a tall order. Get a jump start by personalizing your calendar with all the important family events and special dates you know will be coming up over the next year. That could include everything from family members’ birthdays to holidays and important school dates – even Taco Tuesdays and family games nights!

Feature photos of your family from the previous year, corresponding to each month; think family vacation photos during the summer months, Halloween costume photos for October, a family Christmas photo for December, etc. It’s a good excuse to dust off your hard drive and go through the pictures you took last year. If you have a family pet, don’t forget to include a few cute photos of them too!

2. It Makes A Romantic Anniversary Gift

Coming up with a creative and thoughtful anniversary gift each year can be tough. This year, gift them something extra special: a calendar personalized with photos of the two of you. You’ll be able to hand pick photos to be featured for each month, plus we recommend adding a special message and photo to your anniversary date. You can also include some special surprises each month by adding text to certain days, like ‘date night’ or ‘I’ll cook you dinner/do the dishes’ that your partner can look forward to throughout the year.

3. It Makes a Thoughtful Birthday Gift

Make a calendar that’s all about them for their birthday! Pick your favourite photos with them to feature, and of course make sure to add a special note on their birthday date (and even add a photo).

If you’re celebrating your baby’s first birthday, a ‘baby’s first year’ calendar would make a sweet and sentimental gift to give to family members. Choose photos from throughout their first year to show how fast they’ve grown over the months!

4. It’s a Great Keepsake for Grandparents

Grandparents love a good keepsake. Surprise them with a calendar, personalized with precious photos of their grandchildren. You can add each grandkid’s birthday to the calendar too, so they’ll always remember.

If you have old print photos of your grandparents, you could also feature some of those photos in the calendar too for them to reminisce over. If you need some help digitizing old photos in bulk, check out our Photo Scanning Box Service.

5. It Can Double as a Way to Feature Your Child’s Artwork

Our photo calendars can be functional pieces of art! Save space on your fridge by having your favourite artwork by your kids all in one place. Just take your child’s artwork, scan it, and personalize your calendar with the digital image files. When you flip the calendar each month, you’ll get to enjoy a new drawing by your talented little Picassos! You could even commission them to create special drawings for their birthdays and other important family events, which can be added as images to individual dates on your calendar.

Get started with creating your own personalized calendar online, or you can visit us in-store to use our kiosks (and get a little help from our LDExperts if needed). You can also download our London Drugs Photolab App, available for iOS and Android to order easily from your smartphone or tablet on-the-go!

Optical London Drugs Back to School Giveaway

Optical London Drugs Back to School Giveaway – Official Rules

1) The Optical London Drugs Back to School Giveaway (the “Contest”) is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who, at the time of Contest entry: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since September 10, 2019; (ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside at (nineteen (19) in British Columbia, and eighteen (18) in all other provinces) (iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee. The Contest is subject to all applicable laws and regulations and is void where prohibited. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Terms and Conditions which include the Official Rules of the Contest. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

2) To enter the Contest, purchase any youth-sized glasses (for children aged 13 and under) at any Optical London Drugs locations between August 10, 2020 TO September 10, 2020 11:59pm Pacific Time. Entries for all eligible purchases will be automatically generated and entered into the draw by London Drugs.

See all Optical locations here.

3) No purchase necessary. To enter without purchase, the entrants can mail in their name, phone and email address, along with a handwritten letter between 200 and 500 words about why they would like to win a RayBan Swag Bag with value up to $300. Mail the entry to Optical London Drugs Back to School Giveaway at London Drugs Morgan Crossing #130-15850 26th Ave, Surrey BC, V3S 2N6 or drop them off at any London Drugs Optical location. No purchase entries must be postmarked by no later than contest end date of September 10, 2020 11:59pm Pacific Time. Each entry needs to be in a separate envelope and will count as a single entry.

4) Limit one (1) entry per purchase Limit one (1) prize may be won per household. Purchases must be made no later than September 10, 2020 11:59pm Pacific Time. London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected. All entries become the property of London Drugs Limited and will not be returned.

5) The winners will be randomly chosen on the day the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must have correctly answered the skill-testing mathematical question on the entry for on the online entry form and must sign London Drug’s declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes. Only one prize may be won per person and per household. In the event that any selected entrant incorrectly answers the skill-testing question or is otherwise unwilling or unable to comply in full with these rules, a new entry will be drawn.

6) There will be 4 (four) prize(s) awarded to 4 (four) winners: 3 winners receiving a RayBan Swag Bag (value up to $250) with one winner receiving a RayBan Swag Bag and a pair of Bluetooth wireless headphones (value up to $300). Prize(s) must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. London Drugs reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should any prize become unavailable for any reason. Actual value of each prize may fluctuate based on pricing of each prize component at time prize is redeemed. Prize will be awarded at the closest Optical London Drugs location to the winner and the winner must attend in person to pick up the prize.

Contests dates: August 10, 2020 – September 10, 2020 11:59pm Pacific Time
Draw Date: September 12, 2020 12:00pm Pacific Time

7) Selected entrants will be contacted by email, or social network they were drawn from. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winner does not respond then she/he will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winner still does not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.

8) The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.

9) London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).

10) This Contest is governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and to the extent applicable the laws of Canada. This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering this Contest, the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at www.londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.

11) This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or any other social media platform which may be used to communicate this Contest. All such entities are completely released of all liability by each entrant in this Contest. Any questions, comments or complaints regarding the Contest should be directed only to London Drugs.

12) London Drugs is not responsible for any failure of any website during this Contest, nor is it responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of computer online systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software or any e-mail, online or internet entry lost due to technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to an entrant’s or any other person’s computer or property related to or resulting from playing or downloading any material in the promotion.

13) The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

STATEMENT OF DECLARATION AND RELEASE

All selected entrants will be required to sign the Statement of Declaration and Release attached before they can be declared a winner and receive a contest prize.

Cetaphil Prize Pack Giveaway

Cetaphil Prize Pack Giveaway – Official Rules

New moms trust Cetaphil Baby products because they are gentle on delicate skin. We’re giving you a chance to win this Cetaphil Prize Pack (a value of $249) during our Newborn Savings Event!

To enter:
– Follow @londondrugs
– Share your best newborn baby bathing tip!

Aug 5 – 12, 2020, 11:59pm PST

2) No purchase necessary. Limit one (1) entry per social network per contest. Limit one (1) prize may be won per household. Entries must be received no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Time on Aug 12, 2020 London Drugs is not responsible for entries that become lost or misdirected.

3) Contest is open to all residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba who, as of the date the prize draw is made: (i) have not won a London Drugs contest since Aug 12, 2019; (ii) have reached the age of majority in the province in which they reside as at Aug 5, 2020 (iii) are not employees of London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization (if any), or any family member living with any such employee.

4) The winners will be randomly chosen on the day the contest ends (see dates below) in Vancouver, British Columbia, from all eligible entries received per contest. To win, selected entrants must have correctly answered the skill-testing mathematical question on the entry for on the online entry form and must sign London Drug’s declaration and release confirming compliance with the contest rules and acceptance of the prize(s) as awarded, releasing London Drugs from liability in association with the contest and prize and consenting to the use of their name, photograph, voice and statements for promotional and publicity purposes.

5) There will be 1 (one) prize(s) awarded to 1 (one) winner: each receiving Cetaphil Prize Pack valued at $249.86. Prize(s) must be accepted as awarded, are non-transferable and no substitutions are permitted. London Drugs reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value should any prize become unavailable for any reason. Prize will be awarded at the closest London Drugs location to the winner.

Contests dates: Aug 5 – 12, 2020, 11:59pm PST
Draw Date: 12:00 PM Pacific Time Aug 14, 2020

6) Selected entrants will be contacted by email, or social network they were drawn from. No correspondence will be entered into except with selected entrants. If the winner does not respond then she/he will be notified for the second time, 3 (three) days after the first notification. If the winner still does not respond within 3 days of the second notification, a new winner will be chosen in the same manner until a winner is successfully contacted.

7) The chances of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received. Decisions of the judges in respect of all aspects of this contest including, but not limited to, eligibility of entries and correctness of answers given to the skill-testing question, are final.

8) London Drugs, their respective advertising and promotional agencies, the independent judging organization, and their respective agents are not liable to an entrant in any manner relating to the contest or the awarding and use of the prize(s).

9) This contest is subject to all federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations. By entering the entrant consents to the collection of all personal information included on their entry and agrees to the use and disclosure of such information by and between London Drugs and their agents. The winner(s) also agrees to the collection, use and disclosure of their name, entry, photographs, voice and statements for London Drugs’ publicity purposes without further compensation. All personal information collected from entrants will be used only for the purposes of administering the contest and for marketing and promotional purposes as contemplated by these rules; under no circumstances will any personal information be sold or rented to third parties. All personal information collected by London Drugs will be kept in accordance with the privacy policy of London Drugs, which can be viewed at www.londondrugs.com, and in accordance with all applicable privacy laws.

10) The right is reserved by London Drugs to terminate this contest, in whole or in part, and/or modify, amend or suspend the contest, and/or these rules in any way, should any cause beyond the reasonable control of London Drugs or its agents affect the proper administration thereof.

STATEMENT OF DECLARATION AND RELEASE

All selected entrants will be required to sign the Statement of Declaration and Release attached before they can be declared a winner and receive a contest prize.

Playing Safe Outdoors

Heading outside is a great way to cut back the screen time, enjoy the sunshine and get some fresh air. If you’re spending more time outdoors, especially with your kids, it’s a good idea to be prepared. From wearing the right shoes to dealing with insect bites and stings, we’ve outlined below what you can do to make your outdoor time more enjoyable.

Proper footwear

Flip flops and strappy sandals may seem like ideal summer footwear but they can be dangerous on sandy surfaces. Small children have tender soles, which can easily be burned on hot sand. Open-toed or strappy sandals also leave room for small rocks and other sharp objects to enter and cause pain. The ideal shoe is one that protects both the soles and the upper part of the foot from sharp objects such as nails and glass. Non-slip soles are a plus, helping to prevent injuries caused by slipping on rocks that have become slick from water and algae.

Insect stings & bite

If picnicking or barbecuing outdoors, it is best to prepare in advance for insect attacks. Wearing bright clothing is not a good idea as stinging insects are attracted to bright colours (yellow is particularly appealing to bees). Perfume, including that from shampoos, conditioners, hand cream, lip balm etc. is also an attractant.

Always make sure that food items with fruity aromas like jams, jellies, juices, fruit salads, popsicles and sweet barbecue sauces are kept in sealable containers and close them when not being served. Be aware that open beverage cans are traps for inquisitive bees and wasps, which can enter the can and attempt to exit it when someone drinks from it. This can result in painful stings to the lips and inside the mouth. Stings inside the mouth and throat can be extremely dangerous as they can swell and impede swallowing or breathing.

Teach your children to keep still if a stinging insect lands on them and to let an adult do the work of removing it. If anyone in your group is allergic to insect stings, and needs to use an epinephrine autoinjector, be sure to check with them that they are carrying it. The outdoors are a haven for stinging insects during the summer, and medical attention likely won’t be fast enough in the event of anaphylaxis.

Sun safety

Staying safe in the sunshine means being aware of the three most pressing dangers—heatstroke, sunburn and dehydration. Encourage everyone to drink non-alcoholic drinks frequently, water being the beverage of choice. Also be sure to reapply sunscreen every two hours and always after swimming. You can read more on the prevention and treatment of heatstroke and dehydration here.

First aid

Planning for a visit to the beach also means making sure you have basic First Aid supplies on hand. Despite the best of intentions, accidents do happen, and it’s wise to be prepared.

Cuts and abrasions:
Use bottled water to rinse off the cut, pat dry with a clean towel or cloth, and apply an antibiotic ointment such as Polysporin® to prevent infection, and promote healing.

Apply an adhesive bandage such as Band-Aid® Skin-Flex™, which is designed to move like a second skin; 100 per cent waterproof Water Block™, or children’s bandages—which quickly divert attention away from injuries with their fun kids’ show images.

Insect stings and bites:
Wasps sting and leave, whereas bees leave the stinging organ in the skin, where it continues to emit venom. Quickly remove the stinger with a pair of tweezers, the edge of a credit card or other flat object, or your fingernail. Wash the area with bottled water and soap if you have brought some with you.

Stinging pain and itching frequently accompany bites and stings, so be sure to apply Benadryl® Itch Relief Stick or spray to relieve itch and pain, and protect the skin.

Read other articles in our Spring-Summer 2020 volume of our Bettercare magazine here.

Preventing Warm Weather Tummy Troubles

Eating outdoors in the warmer months is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Barring ant and wasp attacks, who can resist a picnic or homestyle barbie with loved ones? Unfortunately, as soon as outdoor eating starts up in earnest, hospital waiting rooms and emergency clinics begin to see higher numbers of adults and children suffering from food poisoning and other stomach maladies due to improper food hygiene. It’s just too easy to forget all the rules of safe eating when the sunshine beckons.

Prepare foods safely

The risk of foodborne illness increases when the weather turns warmer because the bacteria that cause digestive upsets, including Salmonella and E. coli multiply rapidly in warm, humid conditions. Although food poisoning is usually mild, and most people recover within a few days, sometimes it can be more severe—even deadly. Children, seniors, and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to food poisoning, so it is important to take the risk of food contamination seriously. Even if your destination is a couple of hours away, there is no reason why your food should spoil—provided it is properly prepared and transported.

Always wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food and after preparation as well, if you have been handling raw meats, poultry or fish. Remember that effective handwashing
takes at least 20 seconds and requires soap. It is not essential for the water to be warm or hot, as water that is hot enough to kill bacteria would also scald the skin.

When preparing raw meats, fish or bagged salad greens, never wash them off first. In the case of produce, it will already have been washed in a sanitizing solution at the packaging plant and won’t be made any cleaner by rinsing. Running water over raw meat, poultry and fish increases the risk of contamination as juices from the raw food can splash over your sink and counter.

Raw meat and poultry should never be marinated at room temperature. Instead, marinate it for a few hours or overnight in the fridge to tenderize and/or add flavour. If you plan to use the marinade as a sauce on the cooked food, reserve a portion of it before placing raw meat and poultry in it.

Before grilling or barbecuing meat and poultry, be sure it is fully defrosted so that it cooks evenly. Frozen poultry or meat should always be thawed in the fridge or in cold water, changing the water hourly to prevent bacteria build-up. If the food is to be cooked immediately, it may be safely thawed in the microwave.

If you will be barbecuing, never use the same plates and utensils for handling raw and cooked meats and poultry. The harmful bacteria present in the uncooked food will quickly
contaminate the safely cooked meats and cause food poisoning. This often happens with barbecue tongs, which are generally used for both purposes.

When cooking burgers, be sure that they are cooked right through. Cut them in the centre to make sure the meat does not remain pink. Charring on the outside is no guarantee that the meat inside is cooked properly.

Safe transportation

Although current restrictions due to COVID-19 mean visits to parks and beaches may not be on the agenda, it’s wise to be aware that the golden rule when transporting foods is to keep hot items hot and cold items cold. Cold foods that are allowed to warm or hot foods that are allowed to cool become breeding grounds for the bacteria that cause food poisoning.

When planning cold dishes like salads or cheese plates, remember to prepare them well in advance to enable them to be thoroughly chilled. Pack with ice, ice packs or frozen juice containers. Foods that need to be kept cold include: salads, dips, milk, cream, yogurt, creamy desserts and cakes, sandwiches, ham and other cooked meats. It is a myth that mayonnaise goes off faster than other foods that need to be kept cool.

Don’t leave food out of the fridge for more than a couple of hours, and don’t leave food in the sun. When planning a hot meal, heat it to as high as possible, then either wrap in heavy aluminum foil before placing it in an insulated container or, if it is a liquid dish, place in an insulated container, then wrap it in foil. Hot foods need to be maintained at 60°C (140°F) or hotter to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Take-out foods or foods cooked just before being transported to the picnic can be carried hot and should be eaten within an hour.

To keep soups and beverages hot or cold, use an insulated flask or jar. A variety of these are available at London Drugs. (Remember that these containers will only help maintain food temperature.)

Coolers should be transported in the passenger area of a vehicle, not the trunk, which can become very hot. If you are picnicking or barbecuing away from home, always place the cooler in a shaded area, such as under a picnic table or tree. Be sure to replace the top after every use and avoid repeated openings, which will let in warm air. (Whenever possible, pack beverages and perishables in separate coolers.)

Read other articles in our Spring-Summer 2020 volume of our Bettercare magazine here.

Sun Safety for the Outdoors

Gardeners, golfers, and other participants in outdoor sports often become the victims of too much sun and too little protection.

Applying sunscreen and reapplying it at regular intervals, is reasonably easy to remember when outdoors. Always apply 20 minutes or so before exposure, reapplying at two-hour intervals, and again after getting wet.

Reapplying sunscreen during being active outdoors is often overlooked. The fact that we sweat heavily during exercising, which dilutes the sun protection we have applied, spells double trouble.

Pointers for staying sun safe outdoors

Golfers: Choose a high SPF sunscreen (minimum SPF 30) and reapply after nine holes. Seek out shade whenever possible. Wear a broad-brimmed hat and make sure to protect your neck.
Runners, and cyclists: Choose sweat-resistant or water-resistant sunscreen and remember to reapply after heavy perspiration.
Gardeners: Ensure you garden before 11 am or after 3 pm to avoid sun exposure at its strongest. Wearing long pants and sleeves in dark colors and tightly woven fabrics can also protect from the sun’s rays. You can even consider sun-protection clothing to further block UV exposure.

Most people do not apply enough sunscreen to reach the level of SPF indicated on the packaging. For adequate protection, you should apply two to three tablespoons of sunscreen over your body (approximately one and a half shot glasses) and a teaspoon on your face before going outside.

Whichever sunscreen you choose, be sure that it provides protection against both UVB and UVA rays. (Most sunscreens that offer this protection will say broad spectrum on the packaging.) UVA light penetrates more deeply into the skin, contributing to the risk of skin cancers.

The high-pressure sunlamps used in tanning salons emit doses of UVA as much as 12 times that received from the sun. As a result, people who use tanning salons are significantly more likely to develop skin cancer. Research also suggests that first exposure to tanning beds during the teens or 20s increases lifetime melanoma risk by 75 per cent.

Staying Safe in the Sun

Be sure to check the Environment Canada UV Index, which is published in most daily newspapers alongside the weather forecast. On days when the UV Index reaches 3 or more (moderate), you need to be extra careful to protect your skin.
Avoid sun exposure between 11 am and 3 pm.
Seek shade whenever possible.
Wear a wide-brimmed sunhat and sunglasses.
Reapply your sunscreen frequently (at least every two hours and always after swimming or taking a dip).
Avoid tanning and tanning beds.
Examine your skin from head to toe monthly. Look for moles that have an irregular border, or are non-symmetrical; that are more than one shade or colour, or are greater than 6 mm in diameter. Also be aware of moles that change in size, shape or colour. Report any such changes to your doctor.