Summer is just now winding up and man it’s hot out there!
Heat wave blowing across most of the US right now and the temperature is hot hot hot! Right now in my neck of the woods it’s midday an 95 degrees and it is rising; expecting to hit 104 today.
So hot we’re under an Excessive Heat Warning. Check this out. This was yesterday.
And this is what the week looks like…
All week it’s been hot and I tell you people I love it. I love the heat – the hotter the better. I’ve always said I’d take a hot day over a cold one for one reason alone.
In the cold, after the fire and the soup and bundling up, if you’re still cold you’re stuck, but in the heat? The ways to stay cool never end…
For those who aren’t used to it the question of the day is “How do you deal with the heat?”
So here are some safety tips for heat and a few fun ideas for hot days… Safety tips first.
Safety Tips for Hot Days:
First of all, use some common sense folks. It sounds a bit harsh to say it but people die from heat stroke – don’t be one of them! If you don’t have to be outside during the hottest part of the day, don’t!
The hottest part of the day isn’t actually midday, but the hours after it. Midday may be when the sun is highest in the sky, but it just got there. The five or six hours after midday will be the hottest. In fact the temperature will continue to rise and won’t go down until evening time.
If you don’t have to be out there, don’t be. But if you have to be, then be prepared! This comes from The American Red Cross.
- Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun’s energy. It is also a good idea to wear hats or to use an umbrella.
- Drink water. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.
- Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid high-protein foods, which increase metabolic heat.
- Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 and 7 a.m.
- Stay indoors when possible. If air-conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine. Remember that electric fans do not cool, they simply circulate the air.
- Be a good neighbor. During heat waves, check in on elderly residents in your neighborhood and those who do not have air conditioning.
So I have to add a couple here that they didn’t mention.
If you’re going to be outside stay out of the direct sunshine whenever possible – the less exposure to direct sunlight the better. And this is a big one… Don’t use oil-based or petroleum-based lotions!
That’s right folks. Oil-based and petroleum-based products traps the heat in your skin causing your body to heat up. Putting that stuff on is just begging for a sunburn, heat exhaustion or simply a heat stroke. Stick to water-based or natural creams and lotions.
If you’re going to be active stop and rest often! Pace yourself and don’t do too much work. And here’s the big one that will save your life or the life of a loved one…
Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If you experience any of the following you know you NEED to take a break and cool down.
- Confusion
- Dark-colored urine (sign of dehydration)
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Fatigue or unusual shortness of breath
- Headache
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Pale Skin
- Excessive sweating
- or Rapid heartbeat
If you experience any of those, then stop whatever you’re doing and cool down by drinking plenty of non-caffeinated and non-alcoholic beverages – water is best. If you’re wearing any tight clothing, take it off. Remove any unnecessary clothing as well.
If that doesn’t help much then take a cool shower or bath (preferred) or sit in front of a fan and use cool towels. ANYTHING to help your body cool down.
A heat stoke is much more serious.
- High body temperature
- Little or no sweating with hot red or flushed dry skin
- Rapid pulse
- Difficulty breathing
- Strange behavior
- Hallucinations
- Confusion
- Agitation
- Disorientation
- Seizure or coma
It’s different for everybody but those are some of the signs. Heat stroke can also mimic the signs of a heart attack. If you experience or recognize these symptoms, call 911 immediately!
Get out of the heat immediately and into a cool place that’s out of direct sunlight. Remove any heat-retaining clothing and lie down flat and elevate your feet.
Place ice packs on your head, back of your neck, armpits, palms of your hands, soles of your feet and groin area. Drink lots of water and monitor your body temperature and keep a record of how long your body stays at a certain temperature.
When the ambulance arrives, make sure to give the medics or EMT that information.
Being prepared is the BEST advice anyone can give. We stock up for natural disasters with batteries, radio, flashlights, drinking water and more. The same goes for the heat.
Have ice packs and towels available and keep plenty of cold water close by and before you go out, it’s always good to have a place where you can stop and rest. And of course, let someone know where you will be or where you are going.
A little bit of common sense goes a LONG way.
So now that you know how to be safe in the heat, here are some cool tips for having fun in the heat. Swimming tops the charts. If you have a water park nearby have at it. If not, the local river or springs is one of my favorites. Play in the sprinkler; find a nice shady spot under a big tree and have a picnic; explore nature and take pictures;
There are some cool food stuffs you can do as well. Make ice cream; be a good neighbor and put up a lemonade stand; make popsicles; have a BBQ; make smoothies.
Here’s one of my personal favorites. Get a ton of friends and camp out in your back yard; or, have a water balloon fight. If you’re the active type, go for a hike in the woods, cycling on a nature trail, or go kite flying.
The list of ideas for cool fun in the sun is never-ending. The important thing to remember is to be safe.
