There is one thing that is always guaranteed during the summertime heat. Heat can be a wonderful thing when you are cold, but it can also be dangerous if you are not taking the right precautions.
Jennifer Gillian, a local health professional, said “You can actually have what’s called heatstroke. Heatstroke would be if your body temperature reaches over 104 degrees, and you will feel confusion and irrational thoughts. And that may even progress to seizures”.
The best course of action is to stay indoors if you can, but if you must go outside, there are plenty of precautions that you can take to help avoid heat related illnesses.
Jennifer also says “Take frequent breaks. Definitely try to focus your activities outside between, you know, before 11 a.m., after 4 p.m., if you can see signs of heat exhaustion or dizziness, a fast heart rate, nausea, vomiting”
She also talks about hydration being one of the most important parts of staying safe in the heat, “Whenever you’re out in the sun, or you’re being more active in the summer, it’s important that you replenish the hydration in your body. It can you can become dehydrated a lot faster by sweating, being more active, and the way that you do that is to drink water frequently. Sometimes if you are sweating more, being more active, then you should replenish your hydration with gatorade or recovery drinks”.
Staying hydrated does not mean that you can drink anything, though, as there are a few specific drinks that you should avoid during major heat spells.
Jennifer says some of those drinks are “Beer, liquor, and other alcoholic drinks because those dehydrate you more quickly, and other things like coffee and tea, those will also dehydrate you more quickly”.
So if you know it’s going to be hot and you plan on spending time outside, make sure you listen to your body for warning signs and stay hydrated.
Watch the full video below!
