Surviving The Summer

Summer is definitely here and this time of the year is really meant for fun for most of us. Almost everyone is planning for their great summer vacation. And here in the Philippines, summer means white sand beaches, swimming pools and out of town picnics. On the other hand, the scorching heat of the sun may spoil our summer merriment. Thus, I want to share some tips on how you can be safe and beat the summer heat.

STAY HYDRATED! Keep a cold drink on hand. Keep cool by drinking lots of water. Lemonade and iced teas are the classic summertime drink. Do not drink too much of the sugary soft drinks as it will just make you thirstier and fills you with empty calories.

DRESS FOR THE SUMMER! This is the time to wear your most comfortable clothes. Wear light clothing like tank tops, shorts, capris and flip-flops.

SAVE YOUR SKIN! Use sunblock as often as possible. Recommended is SPF15 or higher. Moisturize your body and face with lotion and cream with sunscreen in them. This is the time to wear visors or hats which are lightweight to keep the sun off the face and neck. Stay out of the sun from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm to avoid sunburns as the sun rays are strongest at this time. Use umbrellas and seek natural source of shades like trees if you have to spend long time outdoors.

PROTECT YOUR EYES FROM THE HARMFUL UV RAYS! Our eyes are susceptible to sun damage especially during summer. The UV rays of the can cause eye ailments like cataracts, eyelid cancer and macular degeneration. Wear dark eyeglasses and choose those that can block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Try also UV protected contact lenses to add an additional layer of protection but sunglasses are still needed to protect the area of the eye that is not covered by lens.

DON’T BURN YOUR WALLET! As we experience global economic crisis, plan your summer vacation on a budget. You don’t want to end up broke after enjoying the summer. Plan well, create a budget and look for creative ways to save money. Keep your travel costs down. Look for discounted resort packages online and make early reservations to qualify for discounted fares.