Published August 11, 2008 05:03 pm -
Rethink summer wear
By Keith Purtell
Phoenix Staff Writer
When temperatures are high and the sun is bright, it might be a good idea to re-evaluate what you’re wearing when you walk outside.
One local man who spends long hours in the summer heat for Green Country Behavioral Health described his work day.
“I’ve been doing horticulture work for about four years now,” Tyler Hinds, 19, said. “When I work with my dad it’s usually just weed eating and mowing, but at Green Country it’s mowing, building fences and gates, everything.”
The conditions outside can be very hot, and Hinds said his work is 90 percent outdoors.
“Summer temperatures gave been in the 80 to 105 degree range,” he said. “They’ve stayed around 100 as far as high temperatures. There’s no shade and no real cover.”
To deal with the harsh environment, Hinds has learned how to choose clothing that helps him stay cool and protected.
“I wear ankle socks and tennis shoes, shorts, a sleeveless T-shirt, and a baseball hat,” he said. “All my clothing is pretty loose fitting and can breath so sweat won’t build up.”
Although some outdoorsmen recommend a hat with a full brim for ear and neck protection, Hinds has so far opted out of that choice.
“I have thought about a wide brim hat, but I look pretty goofy in one,” he said. “All the shirts I wear are cotton; they absorb more sweat and keep me cooler,” he said. “I put SPF 30 sunscreen on my face.”
Although many people would avoid outdoor summer work, Hinds got accustomed to it at an early age.
“I was raised on a farm, so outdoor work is no new thing,” he said. “I kind of prefer it.”
As someone who gets paid to work in the hot summer sun, Hinds has developed some basic tips.
“Wear anything with a loose fit, always wear a hat, and drink lots of water or Gatorade,” he said.
For people who want something that offers more safety from exposure to the sun’s potentially dangerous rays, there are companies that specialize in summertime clothing.
Scott Toll is with SundayAfternoons.com, an Oregon company that specializes in high-tech clothing that blocks damaging ultraviolet light from the sun.