Hi all,
Here in the Southern US were are already well into flying season and it is heating up fast! A quick item I would like to bring up is a few tips to stay comfortable and safe this summer at the flying field or at events/contest. While most of these seem common sense you would be surprised how many folks don't heed these tips (including me sometimes).
1. Make sure you are wearing adequate protection from the sun. Take a few minutes and apply some high SPF sunblock to help protect your skin from over exposure which might cause problems for you down the road.
2. A large brim hat with ventilated top while not "cool" to most folks is really the best headgear to protect you and to let your head disperse the heat it needs to from your body. Ball caps are TERRIBLE at this and allow your ears to get burned by the sun and they trap in the heat trying to escape from your head.
3. Sunglasses help protect your eyes from the intense rays of the sun. Don’t forget them!
3. Wear loose LIGHT COLORED cotton/cotton blend clothing. This helps to reflect some of the heat from your body and keep you cool. While you may be making a fashion statement with that black t-shirt, all you are accomplishing is turning yourself into a solar heat-sink.
4. Drink plenty of water, Gatoraid, or Power Aid. Soda's don't do the trick here and actually make things worse. You need fluids to keep your body cool and operating properly. Every year someone I know that goes to these fly-ins / contest here in the south sufferers from some heat related problem. They were not giving their body the fluids it needs. So keep yourself hydrated!
5. Most importantly PACE YOURSELF. If you are in a new environment that you are not used to be sure and take your time and don't get in a rush. Now you know why we talk so slow down here in the south.
Hope you all have a safe and fun flying season and hope to see some of you out at the fly-ins this year.
Be safe and clear skies! Mike |