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.

“Design and fabric play a key role in sun protection,” he said. “Our customers are active outdoors. Some of them are hobbyists, gardeners, or golfers.”

Toll said such specialty clothing is rated with a number called Ultraviolet Protection Factor, and is recommended by dermatologists.

“Our shirts are loose fitting and have a UPF rating of 40 to 50,” he said. “They’re very light weight and dry quickly. Our hats are made with a brim of 3 1/2 inches or wider. We also make one with a full brim in the front and a soft fabric veil in the back that is 5 to 7 1/2 inches long.”

Part of the design of this type of clothing is the addition of a chemical that absorbs UV light. Toll said the chemical lasts the lifetime of the clothing.

“We also make T-shirts of high-tech fabrics rated UPF 50 wet or dry,” he said. “You can wear them in water. They have a loose fit and come with long or short sleeves.”

While UV protection was once a niche industry, Toll said this type of product is becoming more widely available.

“Many of the major manufacturers are putting their UPF rating on the hang tag,” he said. “A UPF 15 is good. We try for a rating of 40 to 50, which is considered excellent.”

The consumer has to make a decision, however, about the price of the clothing and the value of their health.

“A UPF rated T-shirt can cost $30 to $40,” toll said. “But a visit to a dermatologist or to get a procedure done can be phenomenally costly. And skin disease can be life threatening. It’s very disconcerting to see the rates of melanoma in this country.”

Reach Keith Purtell at 684-2925 or kpurtell @muskogeephoenix.com.