How To Survive The Extreme Summer Heat

 

Hot enough for you?” just isn’t a funny greeting any more in most parts of the United States–or in the rest of the world, either. Today’s summers are very hot for almost everyone. Heat-related illness strikes when the body’s temperature control system is overloaded. Even short bouts of high temperature can cause serious health problems.

To protect us all, some quick tips from the experts:

 

Heat is cumulative.

Never, ever underestimate the power of hot weather. If your body can’t compensate by cooling you off, the heat can undermine your plans, make you or loved ones sick, or incapacitate you for days. It might even kill you if you don’t pay attention. Historically, more people in this country die from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined.

Pace yourself.

The most important thing you can do in this weather is slow down. Don’t let the hot weather undermine you or put you into a panic. Use common sense: think ahead about what you need and want to do in the heat. Minimize physical activity and postpone or avoid strenuous exercise and tasks.

It helps if you check the weather forecasts every morning and evening. Then you can plan your day, days, or week around the heat. Schedule outdoor activities for yourself and loved ones carefully. Try not to go outdoors during the hottest part of the day. Limit your sun exposure, especially at beaches, at midday. Avoid strenuous exercise between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

“As well as the temperatures, keep an eye on the humidity. When it’s high, sweat does not evaporate as quickly as under dry conditions. A constant coat of perspiration keeps your body from releasing heat as fast as it may need to. Age, overweight, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, prescription drugs, and alcohol can each affect a person’s ability to cool off sufficiently in very hot weather.

If you absolutely must exercise or do demanding tasks in hot weather, try to do so during the coolest part of the day. Usually, this is in the early morning before and just after daybreak. Limit all your outdoor activity to morning and evening if you can. Take breaks more often than usual if you work outdoors. Rest now and then in the shade. Look after your family and buddies for signs of heat problems, and have them keep an eye on you.

Adapt your habits to hot weather.

Regardless of what you’re doing, drink more than usual, even if you don’t feel thirsty, to stay hydrated. Sports drinks (not caffeinated “energy” drinks) can help by replacing salts and minerals your body loses when you sweat. Do not take salt tablets except under a doctor’s orders. Carry water with you when you go outdoors, especially if you’re exercising or on a long commute.

”People who stay inside most of the time during a heat wave should drink at least two quarts of water per day. People who go outside should ALSO drink two to four glasses of water, fruit juice, or a sports beverage for every hour of time in the heat. If you’re active outdoors, you should be extra-careful, because your body can lose up to a gallon of water per hour.

 

Eat smaller meals, and eat more often. Avoid heavy meals, hot foods, and foods that are high in protein, because they increase your metabolic (interior) heat.
 

Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, breathable clothing. Stick to clothes made from natural fibers, like cotton. Light-colored clothes will reflect away some of the sun’s energy; dark colors absorb the sun’s rays, making you hot. A wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, even an umbrella, are also wise precautions.
 

Stay indoors when possible. “Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death,” the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated as the month began. Indoor temperature control has enabled us to ignore many of the negative aspects of hot weather until about the past ten years, when climatologists started noticing an unprecedented rise in global temperatures.
 

“If you do not have air conditioning where you live, go for a brief swim, enjoy a sprinkler in the shade, or take a cool sponge bath, shower, or bath to chill out. It’s also important to plan at least one cool break that’s several hours long. Try to take it early or late, so you’re not outside at peak sun hours. A movie in an air-conditioned theater, a leisurely meal at a cool restaurant, a visit to the shopping mall or library, time spent with others who do have A/C, or finding heat relief in a local public health-sponsored shelter–is a must every 24 hours. Time off from the brutal weather can break the worsening cycle of an extensive heat wave.

 

Help others.
 

Remember that heat threatens other people and animals as well as yourself. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially if they do not have air conditioning. Look out for people who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat (seniors, infants, children up to age 4, and people with mental illness or chronic diseases). Have someone else do the same for you. Never leave infants, children, or pets in a closed car, even if you think you’ll only be a minute. Remember that even young and healthy people can get sick or die from the heat. Be ready to give first aid to those who may need it.
 

Be proactive.
 

“Taking precautions to stay cool, hydrated and informed helps to prevent serious health effects, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke during extreme heat,” says Christopher J. Portier, a spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 

Monitor yourself and others for signs of too much heat. Overly hot weather negatively affects our quality of life, whether by a lot or a little. Watch out for these harmful consequences:

·         heat stress,

·         heat rash,

·         sunburn,

·         heat cramps,

·         heat exhaustion, and

·         heat stroke, which can kill.
 

For more detailed information about warning signs, first aid, and medical attention for each type of heat-related illness please go to: http://firstaid.webmd.com/understanding-heat-related-illness-symptoms
 

I do hope some of this information was helpful. Please feel free to leave us a comment and or share.

As always if your in need of Air Conditioning Service please don't hesitate to call Supreme Air Service (214) 310-1680.  Don't take a risk and wait to have your system serviced, we will try our best to get there same day you call.
 

Have a great day!  Stay Cool!