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Summer Heat Safety Tips
July 31, 2024 at 05:22 AM EDT
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Matt Mehallow
Summer is here and that means cookouts, swimming pools, playing sports or relaxing on the back patio or deck. With the summer sun, these activities can become sweltering at times. Extreme heat can present danger and cause serious health issues, so here are summer heat safety tips to help protect yourself as you enjoy the sunshine.
To make sure you have a good time and stay healthy in hot weather, proper heat safety is necessary and starts before heading outdoors. The right clothes can keep you comfortable, so choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting apparel. Flowing garments allow for good air circulation and light-colored fabrics reflect light and heat. Using natural fiber fabrics, such as cotton, linen and silk work best by absorbing sweat and allowing skin to breath. Avoid synthetic fibers, which retain heat and poorly absorb sweat, while increasing your body temperature. Wearing clothing that is suitable for extreme heat will make a difference in how you feel and manage the hot weather.
Scheduling outdoor activities carefully by avoiding the hottest time of day is important. The hottest time of day is usually around 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., so try to limit your outdoor activity to when it is coolest, such as during the morning and evening hours. Direct sunlight can speed up the effect the heat has on your body, so if you cannot avoid being outside during the warmest hours, plan your activities to ensure you’ll have access to shade and plenty of water.
While spending time outside, it is also paramount to pace yourself and cut down on high levels of physical activity and exercise during the heat. If you are not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, stop all activity. Move to a cool area or into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint. Resting often in shady areas will give your body has an opportunity to recover.
Staying hydrated is critical in the summer, so always drink plenty of water, even if you are not thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol. Remember that hydration is important as water provides our bodies with the means to transport blood and to support the function of major organs such as the heart and brain. As the body loses fluids through sweating, they need to be replaced by drinking more water to avoid dehydration. Plus, hydration in a heatwave also serves to help cool the body and regulate temperature.
Summer heat does not have to make you miserable or unsafe. By following these summer safety tips, you can beat the heat while also having an enjoyable time. These tips will help keep you cool.
Image: A look at the heat stroke and heat exhaustion symtoms. (NOAA/ National Weather Service)
To make sure you have a good time and stay healthy in hot weather, proper heat safety is necessary and starts before heading outdoors. The right clothes can keep you comfortable, so choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting apparel. Flowing garments allow for good air circulation and light-colored fabrics reflect light and heat. Using natural fiber fabrics, such as cotton, linen and silk work best by absorbing sweat and allowing skin to breath. Avoid synthetic fibers, which retain heat and poorly absorb sweat, while increasing your body temperature. Wearing clothing that is suitable for extreme heat will make a difference in how you feel and manage the hot weather.
Scheduling outdoor activities carefully by avoiding the hottest time of day is important. The hottest time of day is usually around 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., so try to limit your outdoor activity to when it is coolest, such as during the morning and evening hours. Direct sunlight can speed up the effect the heat has on your body, so if you cannot avoid being outside during the warmest hours, plan your activities to ensure you’ll have access to shade and plenty of water.
While spending time outside, it is also paramount to pace yourself and cut down on high levels of physical activity and exercise during the heat. If you are not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, stop all activity. Move to a cool area or into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint. Resting often in shady areas will give your body has an opportunity to recover.
Staying hydrated is critical in the summer, so always drink plenty of water, even if you are not thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol. Remember that hydration is important as water provides our bodies with the means to transport blood and to support the function of major organs such as the heart and brain. As the body loses fluids through sweating, they need to be replaced by drinking more water to avoid dehydration. Plus, hydration in a heatwave also serves to help cool the body and regulate temperature.
Summer heat does not have to make you miserable or unsafe. By following these summer safety tips, you can beat the heat while also having an enjoyable time. These tips will help keep you cool.
Image: A look at the heat stroke and heat exhaustion symtoms. (NOAA/ National Weather Service)