Enjoy your season in the sun and still play it safe
As kids, summertime meant endless hours of outdoor fun. As adults, we know that the summer heat isn't always cool. But you don't have to become a summer shut-in. These tips will help you keep your sunny side up-safely.
Miss the Midday: The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends avoiding the sun's peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. It's not just important for protecting your skin, it will also help prevent heat exposure illnesses. Itching to get outdoors? Plan an earlier morning hike or picnic or find a park or tennis court nearby with lights so you can play even after sunset. If you do need to be in the sun, be sure to apply a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, 20 to 30 minutes beforehand so it has time to absorb into your skin. Don't forget to reapply often-about every two hours while you're outdoors, and every 45 minutes if you're swimming.
Hit the Bottle: Staying hydrated when it's hot can be a challenge because you won't always feel thirsty. Try to drink eight to 10 eight-ounce glasses of water every day, more if you're out in the heat, working out or if you've just had a massage.
Go Under Cover: You worked hard all spring for that bikini-ready body, but unless you're actually in the water, you're better off covered up. Try wearing tightknit, lightweight fabrics and add a widebrimmed hat to protect the skin on your face, neck and ears from the sun's aging effects. And don't forget the specs. Prolonged sun exposure can damage your eyes, so look for sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays.
Picnic Pointers: Everything tastes better outdoors, but food and heat can be a recipe for disaster. Avoid foodborne illnesses by keeping cool foods cool-below 40 degrees-and hot foods hot-at or above 140 degrees. To avoid contamination, always keep raw foods separate from cooked foods. As for uninvited guests, such as mosquitoes and bees, use an insect repellent with DEET, don't wear scented lotions or perfume, and remove food and garbage from the area as soon as you're done eating.- By J. Woolson