Now that I am back to summer field work, I figured it would be a good time to go over some of the ways that I keep myself safe. Early in my field workdays, I was quite unprepared for some of the hazards I would experience, even common ones like dehydration. So, I’m going to recommend products I use to stay hydrated and pasty (aka not burned!). I don’t get any kickbacks from items.

Staying Hydrated

I’ll never forget the first time I truly experienced heat exhaustion in the field. It wasn’t a particularly hot day which caught me off guard. I was out surveying a swamp and started to break out into a cold sweat which was followed by a splitting headache. I was lucky enough to be able to get cooled down and rehydrated without needing medical intervention, but things could have quickly turned south.

Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are all hazards for folks who spend time outdoors. Symptoms can vary by person, and it isn’t just a lack of liquid that is the issue: a salt imbalance has also occurred. Potassium, calcium, chlorine, phosphate, and magnesium are all salts that can get imbalanced from lots of sweating and working out which can lead to dehydration. For simple dehydration cases, you just need to cool off, rehydrate, and replenish your electrolytes. While sports drinks like Gatorade are made to help with electrolytes, I have found them too be too sugary (or have that sickeningly sweet artificial taste). So, before heading outside, here are a few items I use to boost my electrolytes as a preventative:

• SaltStick Chewable Electrolytes– I’ve been using these for years! I usually eat two before a field day. They have a ton of flavors now, but I have always gone with orange. I also pack a few to take with me just in case I start feeling ill. Be sure to drink water after eating these.
• HYDRANT Hydrate Variety– I just started using these packets to drink before I head out in the field. It gives water a little salty/sweet taste to it to encourage me to drink. I have tried a number of other water flavoring packets. Either they have too much sugar or use artificial sweeteners that leave a funny aftertaste. So far, I like these!

I also try to have things like potato chips or salted peanuts handy because they have salt, potassium, and magnesium: all the things you need when you are dehydrated. It may seem counterintuitive to eat certain salty snacks with water when you are feeling dehydrated, but it can help replenish electrolytes. Don’t overdo it with the salty snacks, though, and be mindful if you have blood pressure issues.

Two other items I find handy are: a hydration bladder and a backpack with a trampoline back panel. Before, I found it hard to stop what I was working on to pull out my water bottles to take a drink. So, personally, I will drink more water in the field if I have a hydration bladder. If you want something small and cheap, then I use this 2-L mini pack for quick excursions. When I have longer trips and/or want to carry my good camera, I will use my Osprey Sirrus 24L pack. I LOVE the trampoline back panel as it allows for air flow between my back and the bag which reduces some of the sweating I do. My only complaint is that it is slim in width, so I can’t fit my big clipboard in it. The Osprey packs don’t come with hydration bladders, but they have a compartment to add one. Apparently, you can purchase trampoline back panels on Amazon, but I can’t provide personal experience on how well they might work.

Sun Protection

I naturally burn very quickly in the sun and have already had basal cell cancer cut off my nose. (Keep an eye out on any dry patches of skin that always seem flaky and/or weird pimples, they could be early signs of skin cancer). So, I try my best to stay protected as possible. Several years ago, I tried what seemed like every mineral sunscreen on the market without success. If they did work, I sweated them off or touched a surface and had patchy burns on my body. Now, I opt to swim in UPF rash guards outdoors to reduce the amount of chemical sunscreen I use. Instead of a cute swimsuit, I now have a nerdy whale shark rash guard and matching shorts from Waterlust. On the plus side, each purchase helps support ocean research! It seems like a number of companies are now jumping on board with fun prints for UPF shirts. So, that’s exciting!

One item I recently purchased for a trip to Borneo was a long sleeve UPF shirt. After a bit of research on Reddit, I found that Patagonia’s Capilene® Cool tech is rated well among hikers and has a 50+ UPF rating. Since I wasn’t about to pay Patagonia prices for a shirt I might not like, I waited until one became available on Poshmark for under $30. It worked well. 🙂 As I do more work outside in sunny conditions, I might also invest in some Merino wool shirts as they also have UPF protection, wick moisture, and can help keep you cool. It seems weird to equate wool with keeping cool, but I can certainly vouch for my Merino wool sock purchases.

On to hats, it took me a long time to break down and accept a hat with a neck guard. I felt weird, but then it was so lovely not having a sweaty neck matted with sunscreen to deal with. As a bonus, the neck guard also helps reduce insect bites! This cheap floppy hat was my go-to hat for years until I left it on a bench in Japan this past summer. I only used the front flap during COVID when it was recommended to wear a mask outdoors. It did keep some of the pesky flies away in Delaware, though! Since then, I have purchased another to help me out. The front and back flaps come off easily.

My newest sun protection gear is arm guards. I have used the Kevlar arm guards for bog turtle surveys in the past, but this year, I bought the Farmer’s Defense arm guards to protect my arms with invasive species removal workdays. (Plus, that mushroom pattern sold me hard!) The arm guards are also UPF rated, so they help with thorns, poison ivy, AND sun exposure. Compared to a long sleeve shirt, I like the convenience of taking these off when I find shade and/or once I get through a mat of greenbrier. My only complaint is that the S/M is a little tight on my biceps.

For sunblock, I have been using Coppertone Sport lotion since high school. I hate how greasy it is, but despite that issue, it literally will stay on all day through sweat and swimming. I use other sunscreen on my face and floppy hats as Coppertone Sport will cause me to break out. For sunscreen, I usually recommend the lotions as you can ensure the coverage you get versus the sprays.

What are some of the ways you keep hydrated and cool in Maryland summers?