10 Ways to Avoid Heat Exhaustion During Hot Weather

Heat exhaustion can affect all ages, especially the elderly and children if not prevented. Keeping your body cool by using the heat safety tips can prevent summer heat exhaustion. When an individual is sweating, let the sweat stay on the skin instead of wiping it off, the sweat is assisting the body's own air-conditioning system. Also when sweating, the body is losing fluid which is called electrolytes/salt water/sweat. Summer heat can range from about 80-125 degrees Fahrenheit and depending on some rural areas/the deserts the heat can become higher than 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

Summer heat safety tips:

1. Stay in the shade when outdoors.
2. Never leave the elderly or children alone in a motor vehicle.
3. Avoid alcoholic drinks.
4. Wear light color shirts (light colors do not attract heat rays as much as dark colors).
5. Wear loose fitting clothes.
6. Apply sunscreen, SPF-15 or higher.
7. Take breaks often when engaging in outdoor activity.
8. Learn CPR in case of swimming activity emergencies.
9. Stay in air conditioned facilities such as libraries, shopping malls, movie theaters, etc.
10. Drink plenty of water and 100% natural fruit juices to stay hydrated.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion happens when extremely high temperatures over heat the body. And the symptoms of heat exhaustion are; nausea, headaches, fainting, thirsty, muscle cramps, dizziness, and fast heart rate. Also in children symptoms of dehydration and heat exhaustion are: sunken in eyes and cheeks, no tears when crying, no wet diaper for more than 2 hours. Heat exhaustion symptoms in the elderly would be dry skin, confusion, dizziness, and thirst (in each individual there are different symptoms). Most importantly, the symptoms listed here on this page and possibly a seizure can lead to heat stroke if not properly prevented.

Prevention of Heat Stroke

But the good news is that heat strokes and heat exhaustion can be prevented. Try to avoid long hours of outdoor activity and take breaks often. Other heat stroke preventions and safety tips are:

• Stay cool by eating ice cream and cold drinks.
• Avoid caffeine drinks.
• Wear sunglasses, sun hats, and umbrellas.
• Eat foods that contain electrolytes such as bananas.
• Drink Gatorade after a strenuous outdoor activity (Gatorade replaces electrolytes in your body).
• Avoid eating spicy foods.
• Have someone supervise the elderly and children to assist them with hydration and staying cool.

If heat stroke symptoms get too serious, call 9-1-1 emergency immediately.

Summer time heat comes with precautions, but summer time is one of the funniest times of the year. Water-events can keep everyone safe from high temperature summer weather, and water events can also be one of the most exciting events of the summer, along with making happy memories.