Many people have probably wondered why pilots never wear short-sleeved shirts. Only long sleeves, and sometimes a uniform jacket on top as well. And it turns out this uniform is prescribed for a good reason – namely, to protect the pilots’ health.
At great altitude the sun’s rays are especially dangerous – this is where the level of radiation is highest. That is why pilots try to protect their skin as much as possible and leave no areas exposed. Applying sunscreen is a norm and a familiar routine for them.
According to sad statistics, melanoma – the most aggressive form of skin cancer – occurs more often precisely among pilots, who, one might say, come into direct contact with the ultraviolet rays penetrating through the windows.
And while passengers can cover the windows with a shade, pilots, alas, cannot afford to do so. However, passengers seated in the cabin should not rely solely on the shade either. Try to wear covering clothing and be sure to bring a tube of sunscreen into the cabin with you.
«Yes, it’s true that pilots are at higher risk of skin cancer and sun-related damage. But passengers should be careful too. The cabin window is small, but during a flight you are closer to the ozone layer, where the sun’s rays are very dangerous», says Dr. Sweta Rai of the British Association of Dermatologists.
In Brazil, piranhas tore apart a man who had fallen out of a boat
