<turday, the Carleton community will gather for one of the most beloved social events of the year, Spring Concert. Although students have dealt with some rainy and excessively windy weather in the past couple years, the weather forecast is looking promising, predicting sunny skies and 82° as the high temperature.
Although we are all excited at the prospect of a perfect day for an amazing event, it’s important for everyone to take some precautions to avoid serious health hazards. The high temperatures will cause dehydration very quickly, especially in conjunction with alcohol, which is a diuretic. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Spending the whole day outside also puts you at a high risk for sunburn. Drinking alcohol may also increase your risk of getting burnt. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before heading outside, and reapply every two hours, whether or not you are drinking. It is recommended that you use 1.5 ounces (enough to fill a shot glass) of sunscreen to cover your entire body. Also, consider spending some time in the shade. Several hours of continuous sunshine is more than enough to produce serious skin damage.
Spending the whole day outside with good company and great music makes it easy to forget to take care of your basic needs, like eating. There will be plenty of food available for purchase from local vendors, so don’t forget to bring a few dollars to keep your body well-nourished and energized throughout the day.
Consider each break between bands a reminder to assess what your body needs. Get some food, drink some water, reapply sunscreen, and sit down and relax. Following these seemingly obvious suggestions will ensure you have a great time, and easily prevent a regretful Sunday.