Tips for Beating the Summer Heat

Not only can summer heat be uncomfortable, but it can also pose a threat to your health. The heat can be especially dangerous for the elderly and for infants. Regardless of your age, don’t let the summer heat get the best of you!

There are several threats to look for in the heat. Here are a few:

Heat Exhaustion:

This is something that can affect anyone including: people who work outside, youth playing sports, students at summer camp, etc. This condition commonly occurs when someone is not well hydrated and working or exercising in extreme heat. Here are some symptoms to watch out for:

• Dizziness, weakness, and headache
• Nausea
• Blurred vision
• Difficulty speaking
• High body temperature up to 101 degrees
• Feeling very hot and thirsty

If you, one of your students, campers, or teammates are suffering from heat exhaustion, move to a cool place and drink lots of water to avoid heat stroke!

Heat Stoke:

If someone is struggling with heat exhaustion, and they do not cool down or hydrate, they could potentially suffer from heat stroke which is a much more serious heat-related condition. Some symptoms to be aware of are:

• Absence of sweating
• Being unaware of thirst and heat
• Quickly rising body temperature above 101 degrees
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness
• Seizure

Heat stoke is a serious medial emergency that must be treated in a timely manner. Until help arrives, try to cool the person down by placing ice on their neck, armpits, and groin. If the person is awake and able to drink, have them drink a small glass of water every 15 minutes or until you are able to get them professional medical treatment.

Tips for staying cool!

Heat and humidity combined can not only be dangerous, but also uncomfortable! Here are a few easy things you can do to stay cool this summer:

• Drinks lots of water! On average, an adult should be drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily, and even more than that on a hot day!
• Avoid caffeinated beverages such as coffee and soda.
• Choose your clothing wisely. If you are outside, be sure to wear lightweight clothing that is breathable.
• Stick to lighter foods if you can. Heavy meals and hot weather aren’t going to be as refreshing as lighter meals.

Summer can be full of outdoor fun, but it’s also important to think about staying safe in the heat! Keep all these tips in mind if you work outside, or if you coach a youth sports team, or even if you are a parent watching your kids play outdoors! Keeping those you care for well-hydrated and watching out for symptoms of heat-related conditions is important for a healthy summer!