By Zoya Gervis // SWNS
New York office - 646-873-7565 / usnews@swns.com
NEWS COPY w/ VIDEO & INFOGRAPHIC
Watching too much TV, not reapplying sunscreen properly, and drinking too many cocktails are some of the most common “summer fails” Americans will experience in the coming months, according to new research.
A study examining how frequently people experience things like sunburn, struggling to sleep due to heat and other summer ailments compiled the most commonly endured.
Other fails Americans say they get hit by in the the summer include forgetting their sunglasses, wearing tight, dark-colored clothing in the heat, using a tanning bed too much and not wearing a hat outside in the sun.
The poll of 2,000 Americans also uncovered the average respondent said they deal with 15 episodes of heat-related fatigue and up to 12 bouts of sunburn or damaged skin over the course of a whole summer.
It turns out that the average American will experience 104 ‘summer fails’ in just one month during the summer season.
Although most Americans know what they need to do to protect themselves from harsh UV rays — such as wearing sunscreen and sunglasses no matter the weather forecast — 31 percent forget to wear their sunglasses and one in five Americans rarely or never wear sunscreen at all.
The study, conducted by OnePoll in conjunction with eyewear company, Maui Jim, examined the summer sun habits and behaviors of 2,000 Americans and found that those aged 25-44 were the most likely to wear sunscreen during their summer activities, whereas those aged 55+ were the least likely to lather up.
The best ways to relax on a warm summer day include napping indoors (49 percent) and lounging outside either by the pool or the beach (58 percent and 49 percent, respectively).
When it comes to relaxing in a sauna, men are nearly twice as likely to sit a bit too long compared to women. But women were guiltier of ditching their hat during the long summer days.
During a day of summer fun, however, men were more likely than women to fall to vanity and forgo items that would protect them from sun damage out of worry it wasn’t stylish enough.
In fact, when it comes to protecting the irreplaceable “windows to the soul” (your eyes), 42 percent of Americans leave them open to sun exposure simply because they don’t want tan lines from sunglasses.
This goes hand-in-hand with the 72 percent of Americans that admittedly have purchased cheap sunglasses, which according to the experts, can be even more detrimental to your eye health than not wearing sunglasses at all.
Spokesperson for Maui Jim, stated: “Even though there are some good health benefits to sunshine, like Vitamin D and vibrant moods, people should still be mindful that extensive exposure to UV rays can also lead to a variety of ailments that may have long-term effects,” said Jay Black, vice president, global brand marketing. “Just like your skin, your eyes need protection from exposure to the sun’s rays, too. Investing in a premium pair of polarized sunglasses can eliminate harmful UV radiation and provide protection against a number of additional stresses, helping your eyes stay healthy so you can keep taking in all the world’s beauty."
Summer is a time for all things sunshine and outdoors. In fact, the top five things Americans associate with summer are the beach, sunglasses, sunshine, swimming, and pools.
To stay active in the heat, half of Americans say the best activity is swimming or playing a water sport.
Tending to the garden is when most Americans don a hat for sun protection -- with two in five of those surveyed revealing gardening to be their top activity that would make them put a hat on.
But, when it comes to sunglasses, over 60 percent of the respondents studied revealed they’d wear their sunglasses when laying outside.
TOP 10 MOST COMMON ‘SUMMER FAILS’
1. Watching too much TV
2. Not wearing a hat in the sun
3. Not sleeping enough
4. Not reapplying sunscreen as necessary
5. Sitting all day
6. Skipping the eye cream
7. Staring at your phone all day
8. Being too active outside
9. Wearing tight, dark colored clothing
10. Drinking too many cocktails/beer
TOP 10 ACTIVITIES THAT CALL FOR SUNGLASSES
1. Laying outside
2. Laying by the beach
3. Laying by the pool
4. Attending or participating in an outdoor sporting event
5. Going to a music concert or festival
6. Going camping
7. Gardening
8. Attending a wedding
9. Swimming and/or playing a water sport
10. Doing a home renovation
