Summer is here, and with summer comes fun in the sun, cookouts, and the great outdoors. While enjoying your summer adventures, it is important to be aware of the risks of heat. Heat stress, heat exhaustion, and in more serious cases, heatstroke can occur. Heatstroke can be fatal if preventative measures are not taken. Learn how to protect yourself from heat stress this summer to keep cool and continue to enjoy your summer.
Here are 5 easy ways to protect yourself:
Dress Accordingly
When you’re not rocking a bathing suit, be sure to wear light-colored, light-weight, and loose-fitting clothing. This allows air to travel through your clothes and helps sweat to evaporate, in turn, cooling down your body. Wearing dark colors will absorb the sun’s rays, and therefore, the heat. It might be best to change into lighter colors and fewer layers before you head to the beach!
Drink A TON of Water
In the heat, your body naturally perspires more in an attempt to regulate your temperature. Unfortunately, this makes it easier for you to become dehydrated without realizing it. Drinking a ton of water and other beverages with high electrolyte contents will keep you cool and help you stay hydrated throughout the day. It’s best to get ahold of a large water bottle that you can bring with you wherever you go. Some diet options can be very dehydrating such as sodas or salty foods. It is also best to avoid alcohol – which dehydrates you – on especially hot days.
Avoid Sunburn
While this may seem like an obvious one, protecting your skin from the sun is important. When your skin is burnt, it is more difficult for your body to release heat. Your body’s heat will essentially become trapped and can cause serious issues. Using sunscreen, covering up with towels or loose clothes, and moving to the shade if you may be at risk of burning will help you avoid heat stress and ensure your comfort both in and out of the sun.
Have Supplies Handy
Let’s face it – sometimes heat stress is unavoidable, even with all necessary precautions taken. Knowing the symptoms and being able to treat heat stress can help protect yourself and others. Even stocking a Heat Stress Kit can help when someone is experiencing symptoms. It is not likely that you will face heat stress or heat stroke each time you are out in warm weather. However, it is the worst-case scenario when someone is experiencing it, and supplies are not at hand.
Note: Using a Heat Stress Kit is not a substitute for professional medical attention. Heat Strokes can be fatal, and knowing the symptoms of heat stroke could potentially save a life.
Spend Time Indoors
Spending some time in an AC, or even in the shade can help regulate your core temperature. Don’t be afraid to miss out on part of the day if you’re uncomfortably hot, as this could lead to more serious symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, cold sweats, and more. If you are ever experiencing symptoms like these mentioned, cool down your body by any means necessary. Whether that be a cold bath or a garden hose, it’s best to cool yourself down before you experience heat stroke.
Following these 5 easy tips can help you prevent heat stress and let you continue to comfortably enjoy your summer.
Check out our other post on Treating the Top 5 Warm Weather Injuries!
