As summer temperatures rise, experts are offering advice to help gardeners stay safe and healthy while working outdoors in the heat. At the Penn State Master Gardener demonstration site in York County, plants are thriving, and gardeners are taking steps to care for themselves as well.Take breaks and stay hydrated”You want to take a lot of breaks when you’re gardening. Sometimes you get so into what you’re doing, you forget that maybe you can’t get up off the ground or take your breaks, have water, and stay hydrated. That’s very important,” said Kathy Yost, a Penn State master gardener. Doctors recommend taking a five-minute break for every hour spent working in the sun and heat. “One of the biggest things to remember is this can happen on a 95-degree day. You’re just doing a normal activity. That would be perfectly fine if it’s a 75-degree day. So, big things are just stay hydrated as much as possible, take frequent breaks in the shade, especially if you develop any sort of symptoms like lightheadedness, dizziness, headache such as that,” said Jed Zeigler, an emergency medicine physician at Penn State Health.Use sunscreen and protective gear”I’m sure everybody here in the gardens is wearing sunscreen. We all have hats on. Sunglasses,” Yost said. Doctors emphasize the importance of sunscreen to protect skin from harmful UV rays, recommending frequent reapplication. “You could easily burn during this time of the year, especially during the midday hours. But anything, you know, any sort of sunscreen that’s applied per the manufacturer settings that SPF 50 should be perfectly fine for most folks,” Zeigler said. Experts also advise covering often-overlooked areas like the scalp and ears.Avoid peak sun hoursAccording to the EPA, the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., a factor to consider when planning outdoor activities or gardening. “For the gardener, say, for as far as heat goes and the sun, to garden in the morning or in the evening, I’d say afternoon. Just take a break. You want to take a lot of breaks when you’re gardening,” Yost said. By following these tips, gardeners can enjoy a safe and healthy summer while cultivating beautiful gardens.
As summer temperatures rise, experts are offering advice to help gardeners stay safe and healthy while working outdoors in the heat.
At the Penn State Master Gardener demonstration site in York County, plants are thriving, and gardeners are taking steps to care for themselves as well.
Take breaks and stay hydrated
“You want to take a lot of breaks when you’re gardening. Sometimes you get so into what you’re doing, you forget that maybe you can’t get up off the ground or take your breaks, have water, and stay hydrated. That’s very important,” said Kathy Yost, a Penn State master gardener.
Doctors recommend taking a five-minute break for every hour spent working in the sun and heat.
“One of the biggest things to remember is this can happen on a 95-degree day. You’re just doing a normal activity. That would be perfectly fine if it’s a 75-degree day. So, big things are just stay hydrated as much as possible, take frequent breaks in the shade, especially if you develop any sort of symptoms like lightheadedness, dizziness, headache such as that,” said Jed Zeigler, an emergency medicine physician at Penn State Health.
Use sunscreen and protective gear
“I’m sure everybody here in the gardens is wearing sunscreen. We all have hats on. Sunglasses,” Yost said.
Doctors emphasize the importance of sunscreen to protect skin from harmful UV rays, recommending frequent reapplication.
“You could easily burn during this time of the year, especially during the midday hours. But anything, you know, any sort of sunscreen that’s applied per the manufacturer settings that SPF 50 should be perfectly fine for most folks,” Zeigler said.
Experts also advise covering often-overlooked areas like the scalp and ears.
Avoid peak sun hours
According to the EPA, the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., a factor to consider when planning outdoor activities or gardening.
“For the gardener, say, for as far as heat goes and the sun, to garden in the morning or in the evening, I’d say afternoon. Just take a break. You want to take a lot of breaks when you’re gardening,” Yost said.
By following these tips, gardeners can enjoy a safe and healthy summer while cultivating beautiful gardens.
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