There are few times of the year better suited for getting outside and doing some yard work than summer, but the blazing sun and oppressive heat of summer days means you have to take special precautions when working in the yard.
if you are the sort who loves to be working outdoors, maybe doing some lawn maintenance with a beer in hand or getting covered up to your elbows in soil as you tend to your vegetable garden, these simple common sense tips on working in the heat will help you keep moving without resulting in a trip to the ER for heat exhaustion.
Drink Plenty of Fluids
This is the biggest and most important thing you can do to stay healthy on hot summer days. The summer heat drains your body of fluids remarkably quick, and that can be dangerous – even deadly. It is vital to remain hydrated not only when doing yard work, but even when you’re just relaxing around the yard, When it’s hot out and you’re active, you should be consuming a liter of water an hour. This will keep you cool and keep you hydrated, preventing things like heat strokes.
Take It Slow
One thing you don’t want to do when it’s exceedingly hot out is to try and blast through your work too fast. Even setting aside the fact that speedy work can lead to sloppy work, too much exertion in the summer heat can significantly elevate your risk of heat stroke and other heat-related conditions. If you’re cutting hedges, raking leaves, doing Toms River landscaping or doing other strenuous activity in the heat, do the work at a steady, deliberate pace. Trying to get it done sooner rather than later is NOT going to be for the best!
Wear Protection From The Sun
The sun’s rays are beautiful, but they can also pose a danger to you – and their heat is not the only danger you’ll face when working out in the sun. The suns rays can give you big problems both temporary in the form of scorching sunburns and long-term in the form of skin cancer. Sun burn can be more than painful and unsightly. Severe sunburns can be as bad as having your hand on the stove, resulting in skin loss, infection and more. The more insidious impact of exposure to the sun, however, is an increased risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer is largely treatable when caught early, but if it goes undetected it can be as deadly as any other cancer. To minimize the risk, be sure to wear a good, strong sunscreen when outside working in the yard. This will help lower the chance you’ll get a sunburn and will greatly minimize your risk of skin cancer. Supplement these efforts by wearing a hat or bandanna while you work to protect your face and head.
Working outside during the summer can be healthy and invigorating, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with its share of dangers. Follow the advice above when doing Barnegat lawn care and you’ll have a much better time working in the yard – and a much SAFER time!