Avoid Heat Strokes During The Summer

Summer is coming, and the increasingly high temperatures only increase the chance for heatstroke. Many people ignore the possibility of it happening, thinking they have the time to prepare themselves for it or avoid it. But the high temperatures can be deceptive, and you can’t easily figure out when you are in danger. It is better to have preventative measures in place already. Here are some ideas on how to better protect yourself from heatstroke.

Keep Hydrated

One of the things you have to prioritize is your fluid levels. It is easy to get dehydrated during hot temperatures. At the very least, you should bring along a water bottle when you are in the heat. Dehydration can sneak up on you, so you have to be careful. It is not just any cold fluid that you can drink to help either. Water is your best option. Sodas, fruit juices, and other drinks usually have ingredients that dehydrate people even faster. This is especially if the drink has caffeine in it. Better to stick with plain water.

Fix Up Your HVAC System

If you are staying inside a house, then you need to give your AC a tune-up. Staying inside is fine if you can ensure that your home can stay cool. While a fan is a nice addition, it will not be enough to keep you cool. It only circulates the air and does not cool it. Air conditioning is better, and it will be doing a lot of work during high temperatures. Ensuring that your house’s HVAC system is fully fixed and cleaned will prevent a lot of issues and ensure you are comfortable.

Plan Ahead

High temperatures are not a surprise. Your local weather station will likely have a forecast of the temperature of the coming days. Knowing when it will be hottest is very important since you can then plan. Avoid going out on those days or have sufficient protection and fluids. You can also schedule a lot of strenuous tasks away from that day. For example, if you are doing house repair, you might want to skip being under direct sunlight so much on those days.

Keep Out Of The Heat

Preventing heatstroke is a lot easier if you don’t expose yourself to heat a lot. If possible, you should stay in the shade as much as possible. When going out, you should wear a hat over your head so that your head won’t heat up so quickly. You should also wear light clothing that helps keep the heat off of your body. During the hottest part of the day, you should take shelter in the shade and turn up the air conditioning to prevent you from heating up.

Rest Regularly

When it’s hot, you shouldn’t be doing strenuous work. If possible, you should be taking a rest during these times. For example, if you are planning to exercise, do it early in the day so that you can rest during the hot part of the day. Additionally, if you have to work, take frequent breaks. Working hard increases body temperature, and you want to avoid that as much as possible.

Lower Your Temperature

Heatstroke comes from your temperature being at high levels for a long time. To prevent that from happening, you need to lower your body temperature in various ways. The simplest way is water. Taking a shower can be very effective since water can take away a lot of the heat from your body. If you are lucky, you might have a swimming pool. Taking a dip in one can help your body control its temperature. Other methods include applying wet towels and staying in air-conditioned rooms. You can also drink cool beverages. Cold meals like salads and ice cream can help, too.

Be Aware Of Your Condition

The biggest problem with heatstroke is that people ignore the signs and keep on doing what they are doing. A better approach would be to know your current condition and to react properly. One of the early signs of heatstroke is a headache. If your head starts aching under the sun, then it is time to get under the shade. Additionally, if you find it hard to think, that is another bad sign. Be alert about how your body feels to improve your chances against heatstroke.

Heatstroke can be surprisingly dangerous to a lot of people. The elderly and the young can be very vulnerable to it. If you have them in your household, it is your responsibility to look out for them. The tips above should help a lot with keeping everyone safe from the heat.