Hydrate and Cover Up when working outside this Summer

Protecting yourself from the sun is vitally important during the summer. “The sun is great but the sun can be dangerous and we live in South Carolina and it gets hot here.” George Newby, CEO of Foothills Community Health Care in Clemson stresses two key things when spending time outside this summer in the sunshine. “When we are dealing with days where temperatures are upper 90s and above, hydration is obviously important. For people that work outside this time of year, covering up is important too. So, use that sun block to make sure that skin melanomas and things like that don’t happen.” Doctors recommend sunscreens rated SPF 30 or higher. In addition, take hourly breaks when working outdoors and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Early warning signs of heat stroke include nausea, seizures, confusion, disorientation, headache, cramps and lack of sweat despite the heat.