Summer is already upon us, so before we hit the beaches, parks, and pools, we must remember to protect ourselves with proper clothing, hats, and sunscreen. Spending the summer afternoons swooning from the heat or recovering from stroke or heat exhaustion isn't going to be a pleasant experience, and exposing your skin to the heat's burning rays won't do anything good for your complexion, or prevent the risk of skin cancer.

To be properly prepared, you should slather up with protective sunscreen, one with a high sun protection factor (SPF) in order to "screen" your skin from harmful sun rays. Then, after you have covered yourself with appropriate sunscreen protection, you mustn't forget to wear suitable clothing for your summer time adventure. If you intend to play at the beach, be safe and wear a hat that protects your head and your face, and will keep the heat off. Even a ballcap offers more protection against the sun than nothing at all. If you have short hair (or no hair), it's also fine to apply suitable amounts of sunscreen to your head, as that's where the sun will hit you first.

Take along an umbrella (not for the rain) to provide you with some shade. And don't leave the bottle of sunscreen at home, because if you or your kids intend to swim in the water, chances are that most of the sunscreen will wash off, even if the sunscreen indicates that it is water-proof.

This summer, be safe, and be smart; wear sunscreen, whether you're going to be active at the lake, or lounging around poolside. While some consider a tan to be a sign of healthiness, a sunburn does not, and nor does melanoma.