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Who doesn’t love summertime?!? But with the warm sun also comes responsibility and being conscience of the heat especially for our young children. With the temperatures rising this summer, cases of heat exhaustion and sunstroke are sure to rise as well. These deadly conditions are entirely preventable if precautions are taken. Because there are so many heat related illnesses each year, it becomes imperative to learn how to prevent heat exhaustion. Here are several tips that can keep you safe throughout the hot summer months and out of your local emergency room:
Dress Appropriately
Dressing appropriately does not necessarily mean wearing tank tops and shorts. What it does mean is to wear clothes that are loose, not heavy and light in color. The key is to allow evaporation of your sweat and to keep your body temperature nice and cool. Tight clothing is far more likely to cause your body temperature to rise.
Seek out the Shade
If you are unlucky enough to not have air conditioning in your home, be sure to head out to an area that does on the hottest of days. When the hottest part of the day arrives, take a trip to the local grocery store, mall or even a friends house to cool off. When you are outdoors, try to stay in shaded areas out of the sun. Never sit inside a stuffy, hot area for long periods of time. This can bring on heat exhaustion and sunstroke very easily.
Use Sunscreen and Avoid Sunburn
Burned skin is virtually guaranteed to retain heat. Protecting your skin is an important part of staying safe during the hot days of summer. Hats can be very helpful as well but there are few substitutes for staying out of the sun.
Stay Hydrated
Few things can protect you more than keeping fluids in your body throughout the day. Not all fluids are created equally either. Water is by far your best choice and should be the first thing that you reach for on a hot summer day. Getting dehydrated will send you spiraling towards a heat related illness quicker than anything. Keep the water going all day long when the temperature gets elevated this summer.
Put off Exercise until the Morning or Evening Hours
You might want to go out for that afternoon jog, but that does not mean that you should. Avoid the hottest parts of the day when you want to go out and exercise. Instead, get up a little early and enjoy dusk. This is one of the most peaceful times of day and it also happens to be the coolest. Likewise, just before dark is also a great time to exercise. During the summer we have to adjust our lives to stay safe. It’s a small price to pay to avoid heatstroke.
How do you prevent heat exhaustion and sunstroke during the summer months?
Believe me when I tell you heat exhaustion which led in my case to total dehydration is no picnic! The above would not have helped in my situation but heed these warnings well!! Now I never go anywhere without some kind of liquid right at my side.
I find that staying hydrated with proper fluids is key. We’ve done lots of summer travel and while hot, we still managed to have fun.
I seem to get sunstroke quite easily if i’m out in the sun without wearing a cap or hat of some sort. I always try to get in the shade when possible. Keeping hydrated is definitely a big thing you must make sure you do.
I like to keep a cooler filled with water bottles in the car during the summer. It’s hydrating and refreshing!