Beat the heat

Published 6:00 pm Wednesday, June 14, 2017

This week’s weather has seen sunny skies and temperatures soaring into the 90s. It’s not likely to change, either.

During the summer, residents enjoy swimming, working and playing outside and adding in cardio workouts to get ready for the beach. However, it’s important to remember one’s health and well being, and how quickly overheating can happen.

It’s one thing to feel hot, but it’s quite another to experience hyperthermia. Some symptoms include nausea, increased sweating, fatigue, dizziness, headaches and rapid heart rate.

Don’t ignore these symptoms. It is imperative that one goes straight indoors and drinks plenty of water to avoid a heatstroke. “Powering through” the intense heat could be a harmful mistake.

Mayo Clinic offers some tips on avoiding these symptoms:

  • Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing.
  • Use sunscreen. Sunburn affects the body’s ability to cool off.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Make sure there are no heat-related problems that can occur when taking certain medications.
  • Never leave anyone in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked. Heat-related deaths in children are more common than one might think, as are deaths of pets.
  • Try to avoid strenuous activity in hot weather, but if it’s unavoidable, drink fluids and rest often in a cool spot.
  • Allow the body several weeks for it to adjust to working in hot weather.
  • Use extra caution if one is at increased risk of heat-related illness.

By following these tips and being in tune to one’s body, heat-related illnesses can be avoided. All that’s needed is a little extra thought when confronted with high temperatures.

Summer should be fun — not deadly. Make sure to keep it that way.