Memorial Day kicks off the unofficial start to Summer, and the time of year when we really need to take extra care to protect ourselves.  First, it is very important to stay hydrated.  Drinking lots of water, and sports drinks, especially those that are low or free of sugars are best when temps soar to 90 and above.  Our bodies are quite amazing how they can regulate heat so well using the system of sweating.  However, Mother Nature can cause our bodies to over-sweat on hot and muggy days as well.  When the humidity levels are higher on hot days, the sweat off our skin does not evaporate as quickly, and causes our body to not cool as effectively.  Not only are drinking fluids important, but not over-doing it, and taking frequent breaks are very important.  Also, its a great idea to keep your skin as covered as possible with light weight, light colored clothing, and wearing a wide brimmed hat that will keep as much sun off your skin as possible.  The official start of Summer is only a few weeks away (evening of June 20th), and that is the time when the sun is the strongest in our area.  So its very important if you are going to be outside to keep the sunscreen on, and reapply it frequently especially if you are in the water.  Even if you don’t actually go in the water, burn times can be much less near the water (like in a boat) because of the water’s reflective properties.  It is also a good idea if you have to do chores outside to try to avoid the peak heating hours of the day when the sun is the strongest, between 10am-4pm.

The EPA does a daily UV forecast for Austin, and all weekend long has forecast a peak UV rating of 11+ each afternoon for us.  Below is the forecast from the EPA website for today.