THE SUN IS NOT YOUR FRIEND

Originally Published in Western Outdoor News the Week of September 17, 2015

This is your yearly public service announcement about the sun because the last memo was too long ago. Also, I’m tired of trying to convince fishing clients here this year that they:

 

1. Don’t have the flu from some “bug on the airplane.”
2. Don’t have food poisoning from the “fish tacos” at a street vendor
3. Drank bad “Mexican water” brushing their teeth at the hotel
4. It wasn’t the “extra powerful” tequila shot at dinner

 

Whether you call it “heatstroke,” “heat exhaustion” or “sunstroke,” it’s all the same and it disguises itself well. Especially in a country where there are so many other stereotypical culprits to be blamed from the food, to water, to contaminated dust to bad tequila, it’s an easy and common mistake.   (Not to be confused with “too much tequila.” Big difference but same effect. )

 

More hangovers, headaches, chills, sweats, bad tummies, Montezuma’s revenges, muscle cramps and other maladies have been blamed on “Mexico being Mexico” than the real bad guy.

 

And he’s one of the reasons so many flock to Baja!

 

It’s Senor Sol. Mr. Sunshine. Yes, that yellow orb and object of worship in the sky. The focus of suntans and daydreams. Afterall, what would Mexico be without it’s sun as a giant magnet of tourism?

 

But, when not respected, the sun is not your friend.

 

At the minimum many folks are at least conscious of using sunscreen to protect their skin.   That much is ingrained in our social psyche.

 

But, if you don’t use it correctly by re-applying it during the day, it won’t work. If you don’t put it on the tops of your ears…the tops of your feet…the tops or your exposed thighs…you’ll pay in pain later. Your back, arms and face are just a start and you probably shouldn’t be out there fishing without a shirt anyway. That blazing red skin is a very real burn just like if you had been touched by a flame.

 

I see long-time residents here in La Paz who have had too much sun. I’ve seen their leathery skin that looks like my old baseball glove or seen the skin lesions where melanoma has popped up.   It’s not pretty.

 

But beyond the obvious burn factor, there’s the heat. And to so many coming down to enjoy the Baja, that heat is a the sneaky bad guy.   Even during recent months when the sun hasn’t always been shining because of overcast, the heat is still capable of doing damage.

 

And it’s not so obvious as simply turning red like a sunburn.

 

Even on the overcast days, the sun is beating behind those clouds. It’s producing humidity from those clouds as well as huge amounts of evaporation from the ocean.

 

For example a few weeks ago, we had a day that was a “manageable” 101 degrees here in La Paz. Seemingly no big whoop.

 

But, with the actual heat index measured with the humidity, it was 127 degrees…in the shade! It’s similar to cold and adding in the wind chill. There’s temperature. And there’s the REAL temperature!

 

Maybe because it has been an El Nino year and we haven’t seen as much sun as normal, I’m seeing more anglers not wearing hats. Not wearing sunscreen. Taking off their shirts.  Not drinking enough water.

 

We encourage water intake contantly. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty.  Don’t measure water intake by how much you pee.

 

The heat is drawing moisture from your body with every breath. You’re sweating out a lot too. Losing salt and electrolytes. If you’re fighting fish or involved in other activities from snorkeling to kayaking and zip-lining to camel rides, you’re losing fluids.

 

Hate to break it to you, but alcohol does not count as “hydration.” If you are drinking, take it easy. Drink water in between the cervezas or margaritas.

 

On top of it, the food in Mexico is high in sodium (salt). Hey…that’s one reason it tastes so good! But, from salsa to chips, everything is salty. Carne asada, shrimp, guacamole…it’s all laden with salt let alone that delicious rim of your margarita!   Push that through with more water.

 

Obviously, stay as cool as possible. Stay in the shade as much as possible. Don’t be a knucklehead and ruin your vacation.

 

I understand. Sometimes you’re just having too much fun and forget the common sense.  It happens.  But, at best it can ruin your vacation.  At worst, you could end up hospitalized.

 

We had one client several weeks ago who insisted he didn’t need a hat and only drank alcohol for two days.  He was having a blast catching fish.  Exerting himself in the sun.  We ended up sending him to the doctor for dehydration when he got the shakes and turned stone-white and clammy and started throwing up. He missed a day of fishing too. That wasn’t worth it.

 

It’s not the first time, someone didn’t listen to us or their bodies or common sense.   The problem is that most folks don’t realize it until AFTER the FACT.

 

It’s when they’re done with fishing or swimming. It hits when they are sitting down to dinner or relaxing by the pool (and still drinking cocktails and sitting in the sun) that their body starts reacting. This delayed reaction is a big reason folks blame bad food or a bug or bad water. “Must be that ceviche I ate.”

 

If it does start happening. . . Get cool. Stay cool. Stop exerting yourself. Drink liquids. Replenish potassium and nutrients with Gatorade or Pedilite or similar. The gentler the better. I like Pedilite myself. It’s the stuff they give kids and babies who have the runs. Less sugar in it.

 

If you can eat, be gentle. Most restaurants have a consommé (chicken broth) or somesuch that you can add some rice or crackers to. If you’ve got a charter master or someone handling you there and in charge, let them know.

 

Take it easy and you’ll be up and about again in no time, ready jump back into it!

That’s my story!

Jonathan

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Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western Outdoor News since 2004.  Along with his wife and fishing buddy, Jilly, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La Paz, Baja, Mexico  www.tailhunter-international.com.  They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront.  If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com  or drop by the restaurant to say hi!

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Tailhunter International

 

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