Keeping cool when temperatures reach record highs isn’t just about comfort. Dangerously high temperatures can result in heat- related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The following tips can help you keep cool.
• Alter your pattern of outdoor exercise to take advantage of cooler times (early morning or late evening), or scale down by walking instead or running.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing of a light colour.
- Cotton clothing will keep you cooler than synthetics.
- Fill a spray bottle with water and keep it in the refrigerator for a quick refreshing spray.
- Fans can help circulate air and make you feel cooler even in an air-conditioned house.
- Store lotions in the refrigerator to use on hot, overtired feet.
- Keep plastic bottles of water in the freezer; grab one when you’re ready to go outside. As the ice melts, you’ll have a supply of cold water with you.
- Take frequent baths or showers with cool or tepid water.
- Combat dehydration by drinking plenty of water with sports drinks or other sources of electrolytes.
- Some people swear by small, portable, battery-powered fans.
- If you’re wearing a cap or hat, remove it and pour a bit of ice cold water into the hat, then quickly invert it and place on your
head.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these will promote dehydration.
- Avoid hot foods and try lighter summer fare including frequent small meals or snacks containing cold fruit or low fat dairy products. You won’t have to cook next to a hot stove.
- If you don’t have air-conditioning, plan to spend parts of the day in a shopping mall, public library, movie theater, or other public space that is cool.
- Finally, use common sense. If the heat is intolerable, stay indoors and avoid activities in direct sunlight or on hot asphalt surfaces. Pay special attention to the elderly, infants, and any- one with a chronic illness, as they may dehydrate easily and be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Don’t forget that pets also need protection from dehydration and heat-related illnesses.
(MedicineNet.com)