Pat's Blog

We seem to have a love-hate relationship with the sun: we can't survive without the welcoming embrace of its warmth, and yet it can also burn us—both literally and figuratively. This is especially true during summer. Millions of people love basking in the season's heat and working on the healthy glow of their summer tan.

Enjoying the heat is one thing, but thinking that glow—or the hours spent in the sun to get it—is healthy? Not so fast. Sweltering heat can severely impact our health in many ways, from sunburn to heatstroke. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy all that summer offers, as long as you're smart about it. Fortunately, there are many easy ways to protect yourself and your loved ones so you can stay safe and focus on your fun in the sun.

The summer solstice, or midsummer, occurs when the sun hits its highest position in the sky, resulting in the greatest number of daylight hours at any point during the year. Sol in Latin means sun, while stitium means to stand still. It is believed that solstice describes the sun appearing to stand still in its daily path.

While every culture has its own variation of beliefs about the solstice, there is a common thread that summer brings new life. As the summer sun presents itself radiantly, use this time to appreciate the abundance of life and happiness the season offers.

For the adventurer

T...