Tips for the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse
“On April 8, North America will experience a total solar eclipse, stretching across parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada, with approximately 31.6 million people living in the path of totality. According to NASA, every contiguous state in the U.S., along with parts of Alaska and Hawaii, will witness at least a partial solar eclipse. With all eyes toward the sky during an eclipse, Dr. Dawn Davis, a dermatologist at Mayo Clinic, says it’s important to protect your eyes and your skin from ultraviolet (UV) light damage. “If you would like to see the solar eclipse, you will need to have special [ISO-approved] solar eclipse glasses,” says Dr. Davis.
Tips for safely viewing the total solar eclipse:
🌕 Along with wearing special glasses, there are additional ways to stay safe during a solar eclipse.
🌔 Wear sunscreen with a high SPF and broad-spectrum protection.
🌓 Reapply it every two hours, or more often if you sweat or get wet.
🌒 Wear a hat that covers your head, face, ears and neck.
🌑 A wide-brimmed hat is ideal, as it can also shield your eyes from the sun.
🌘 Wear protective clothing that covers your arms and legs.
🌗 Choose light-colored, loose-fitting and breathable fabrics that can keep you cool and comfortable.
🌖 Seek shade whenever possible, especially during the peak hours of the sun’s intensity (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.).
🌕 Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and avoid heat exhaustion or heatstroke.”
-2024 Mayo Clinic News Network. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2024-04-safely-total-solar-eclipse.html#:~:text=Tips%20for%20safely%20viewing%20the%20total%20solar%20eclipse&text=Wear%20sunscreen%20with%20a%20high,your%20eyes%20from%20the%20sun
“It’s such a beautiful race,” she said. “The scenery is breathtaking, and the crowd energy is amazing. My mom has come up both years to cheer me on, which also makes it really special.” Whether she’s racing along the island’s winding roads or venturing into Acadia’s trails, Caitlin has found that being outdoors recharges her and deepens her appreciation for the intersection between health, resilience, and nature, a passion that has inspired her next step.
After residency completion this year, Caitlin is pursuing a fellowship in Wilderness Medicine, a field that perfectly blends her love for the outdoors with her dedication to emergency care. “Working at MDI Hospital has been an example of the merger between helping people in challenging environments and working closely in nature that I hope to experience during fellowship,” she said.
Reflecting on her time at MDI Hospital, Caitlin expressed deep gratitude for the people and experiences that have shaped her journey. “I plan to use the skills I have learned across my rotations at MDI Hospital going forward into my medical career so that I can provide great patient-centered care,” she said. “I will also remember the wonderful people I have met and cared for here who have helped shape my medical training to date.”
Whether running along the rugged coastline or responding to patients in the ED, Caitlin has found that MDI offers the perfect mix of challenge, inspiration, and community. It’s no surprise that for her, coming back to Mount Desert Island felt less like returning to a rotation, and more like coming home.
