Avoid Sunburn
Cartoon in red, yellow and blue: a scowling sun beams down on a red figure lying face down, and a small sweating figure below sits on pillows holding a jar marked 'SALVE'. The text reads 'Avoid sunburn - use protective ointments - it's smart to stay on the job'. The pained figure is a fear-appeal built on humour.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1944
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Navy Department Safety Bulletin, cartoon by Chuck Thorndike
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- Military
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Own forces
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Themes
- Health, War and the military
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Navy Department Safety Bulletin. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-439 (NAID 513898).
Text on the object
Avoid SUNBURN USE PROTECTIVE OINTMENTS It's smart to STAY-ON-THE-JOB NAVY DEPARTMENT SAFETY BULLETIN SALVE [signature:] Chuck Thorndike [imprint:] U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1944-O-570188
