16 Ways To Protect Yourself From Summer Heat

Protect Yourself From Summer Heat

Not only is Sunday June 21st Father’s Day, it is also the first day of summer (Summer Solstice 2015); And according to the National Weather Service, It is going to be a hot one!

Here are some tips to keep you from over heating:

1. Stay Hydrated! Good old H2O is critical for re-hydrating when the body experiences fluid loss. The Institute of Medicine determined that an adequate intake (AI) of water for men is roughly about 13 cups (3 liters) of total beverages a day. The AI for women is about 9 cups (2.2 liters) of total beverages a day.
   

   An excellent reason to drink.

2. Have you herd of the Australian saying “flop, flip, slap”? It means that you should flop on some sunscreen, flip on a shirt and slap on a hat.
3. Wear loose, lightweight and light-colored clothing. Whereas dark-colored clothing absorbs heat from the sun, light-colored clothing reflects the sun’s heat away from the body to help it stay cooler. Plus it’s been said that light-colored clothing enhances moods.
4. Avoid wearing synthetic clothing. Cotton clothing will keep you cooler because it breathes better than oil-based synthetic fabrics like polyester.
5. Stay indoors during peak temperature. Avoid activities in direct sunlight or on hot asphalt surfaces. If possible, stay in an air conditioned place. Don’t have AC? then it’s time to check out your public Library – all the books you can read plus AC – win, win!
6. Are you planning on hanging out by the pool? Make a DIY air conditioner by positioning a shallow pan or bowl (a roasting pan works nicely) full of ice in front of a fan. The breeze will pick up cold water from the ice’s surface as it melts, creating a cooling mist.
7. Go easy on the caffeine and alcohol as these will promote dehydration.
8. Try eating lighter summer fare including frequent small meals or snacks containing cold fruit or low fat dairy products.
9. Do you exercise outdoors like I do? Consider working out early morning or late evening – these times are typically up to 10 degrees cooler. If you can’t change the time of your workout, scale it down by doing fewer minutes, walking instead or running, or decreasing your level of exertion.
   

   Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!

10. When working out choose garments made from moisture-wicking cotton. They are specially designed to keep you drier and cooler during exercise.
11. Try placing an ice pack on your wrists. It cools the blood in your veins and instantly makes you feel cooler.
12. Did you know that there is an increased chance of fire or medical emergencies because of the heat? Well, keep an eye on refrigerators and freezers kept in a garage. Ideally, they should be cooled by an air conditioner. In order to keep the inside of the coolers cold, the compressor has to work extra hard. If the room or garage gets really hot, the compressor works even harder to stay cool and can cause a fire.
13. Extension cords have also been known to cause fires if they are constantly running and carrying an overload of electricity than required. Use them with extreme caution!
14. Do not leave items such as paints, fuels, aerosols, CDs/DVDs and cellphones in a hot vehicle. Leaving these items in the heat or exposing them to direct sunlight, could bring out heat-sensitive chemicals which may cause them to be damaged or explode.
15. Keep parked cars as cool as possible. Use car visors, crack windows for ventilation, cover steering wheels and car seats. Cars parked in direct sunlight can reach internal temperatures up to 131° F – 172° F (55° C – 78° C) when outside temperatures are 80° F – 100° F (27° C – 38° C). Imagine the shock to your body if you enter a car that is  172° F? And if you have leather seats, ouch!
16. Some medications may cause you to be more susceptible to the heat. If you start to experience signs of heat exhaustion such as muscle cramping, heavy sweating, weakness, cold, pale and clammy skin, fast but weak pulse and nausea or vomiting, Get out of the sun and take steps to cool down your body. If the problem persists, seek medical attention.

Important note: Heat stroke (also known as sunstroke) is the most serious form of heat injury and is considered a medical emergency. If you suspect that someone has heat stroke, call 911 immediately! Heat stroke can kill or cause damage to the brain and other internal organs. Although heat stroke mainly affects people over age 50, it also takes a toll on healthy young athletes.

Drink plenty of fluid

Heatstroke symptoms include: