Arkansas Outdoors column: Guard against sun, dehydration while on the water | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The Arkansas Outdoors column highlights the need for sun protection and hydration for people recreating on the water during summer. The author recounts two personal incidents: a high-school trip to Lake Maumelle while fishing without sunscreen from Jolly Rogers Marina (now Westrock Marina) resulted in a severe sunburn. Later, in 2006, during wade fishing on Crooked Creek with Rusty Pruitt and Tommy Marks of Mt. Airy, Md., Marks—described as elderly—showed symptoms of heat exhaustion and was taken to the Fred Berry Conservation Education Center visitor center to recover. The author then recognized their own heat exhaustion after becoming sluggish and making erratic decisions, having stopped sweating. The column recommends long-sleeve fishing shirts with high SPF, wide-brimmed hats, and careful sunscreen selection, noting mineral versus chemical approaches and sunscreen’s cooling effect.