It might have been the unofficial start of summer last weekend, but this weekend sure feels more like summer.

If you’re like me, you’ve spent these warm days outside, dealing with the heat, which seems extreme considering how much different the weather was over Memorial Day weekend.

I made sure to pack a large water bottle for wherever I went, and took advantage of the places I could fill it up.

But if you were outside, you were also dealing with the sun, and hopefully, you made good decisions in regard to that, too.

I like to think I made a good one a few weeks ago when I bought a hat. It sounds kind of simple, but believe me, I needed it. The picture doesn’t lie – I don’t have much on top to keep my noggin from burning – and it seems I end up frying the top of my head twice a year – once at the beginning of summer, as a reminder I need sunscreen, and once at the end, when I think I don’t need it anymore.

So far, I thankfully haven’t had that initial burn, and I’d like to attribute that to the hat. It’s nothing special, just an adjustable black Pirates cap, but it has done the trick.

Another decision I feel good about was stocking up on sunscreen. Not only do I have a few bottles at home, but I have one in my desk in the office and another in my car.

I’ll admit, it’s kind of weird trying to put sunscreen on my face using just the rearview mirror, but it has worked up to this point, and I’m grateful for that. There isn’t much worse than trying to fall asleep when any portion of your body is sunburned.

If that isn’t enough of a reason for you to grease up before going out, how about this: Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, and each year, there are more new cases of skin cancer than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer combined, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

The American Cancer Society has estimated that in 2013, more than 9,000 people will die of melanoma. And of the most common cancers in the U.S., melanoma is the only one whose incidences are increasing.

One more fact from the SCF for you: Half of all adults report having at least one sunburn in a 12-month period.

Now that the warmer weather is here, remember to be liberal with sunscreen. And it’s always a good time to buy a hat.

Joe Marchilena writes a weekly fitness column for Hampshire Hills Sports & Fitness Club in Milford. For more information about the “90 Day Commit to Get Fit” program, call 673-7123 or email hhinfo@hampshirehills.com.

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