It’s days like this that bring a family in Norman’s Cove to reflect on the dangers of U-V rays.

Kelly Piercey lost her father, Hayward Smith, to skin cancer last fall. Smith, a former president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Fur Trappers Association, spent much of his time on the water and in the woods. But at age 75, he developed a spot on his ear. Within 18 months, skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) had claimed his life.

Piercey says her father did start applying sunscreen later in life but by then it was too late. He always wore a hat too, but not the correct type.

He most often wore a peak hat, which does not cover the ears. He switched over to a wide-brimmed hat for greater protection but by then, the damage had been done.