Tips to Deal with Extreme Heat

As the temperatures continue to rise as the summer flies by, many people are affected by the extreme heat that we have been facing. Heat-related injuries and heat stroke are increasing almost as fast as the temperatures. 

However, it doesn't have to be this way. There are ways to beat this extreme heat and stay healthy. Here are some tips to help you do so. 

Make sure that you know who is at risk for heat-related injuries. There are many people, such as babies, children, and elderly, that are more prone to this extreme heat. I recently wrote an article about it. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, you can read it right here. 

If you know someone who is at risk, make sure that you check up on him or her regularly. If you have an elderly neighbor that lives alone, go over and ensure that he or she is doing okay. You may want to offer to run errands for him or her just to make sure that he or she is staying out of the heat. 

If you are at risk, make sure that you take care of yourself properly. If you know that you can't handle the heat, you need to do everything that you can to keep yourself as safe and healthy as possible. 

Drink, drink, and drink some more! Hydration is the most important way to keep yourself healthy during a heat wave. You need to make sure that you drink constantly in order to make up for all of the liquid that you are losing in sweat. 

Carry a water bottle around with you, in the house, and when you are out. Even if you only think that you are going to be gone for a few minutes, make sure that you have a way to stay hydrated during that time. Besides, you may find yourself on your fifth errand and so thirsty that you can't handle it! 

Stay inside in the air conditioning. The best thing that you can do when it is this hot outside is to stay inside. Only venture out when it is cooler, such as early in the morning or late in the evening.

If you don't have air conditioning, you may want to visit places that do. You may want to spend a few hours in the mall or your local library. You could take advantage of these hot days to visit museums, go to the movies, and other indoor (air-conditioned) activities.

If you are stuck at home, you can help cool off your home in other ways. You may want to keep your fans running around the clock to try to keep your home as cool as possible. You may want to draw your curtains to keep out the sun.

Take plenty of showers and dress in light and loose clothing. This will help to keep your body as cool as you possibly can during the hottest parts of the day. You may also want to use damp towels or even ice to keep you cooler. Many people like to put their feet in cold water to help them cool off.

Plan ahead. You should do as much as you can in the morning and the evening to avoid that hottest part of the day. Spend the afternoons in the air conditioning catching up on your reading and other activities that you enjoy. 

Don't be afraid to cancel activities when it is just unbearable outside. No matter how badly you want to go somewhere, you might enjoy it later when it isn't as hot. 

Listen to your body. Though you may not realize it, heat takes a lot out of you. You may feel like you need to rest and relax; nothing is wrong with that.

If the weather forecast is calling for extreme heat, you may want to stock up on food and medications, so that you don't have to leave your home for anything! It would be great if you didn't have to run any errands for the weeks that are simply unbearable to be outside.

Hot weather and extreme heat can be very harmful. For this reason, you need to make sure that you take care of yourself and those that you love. You are going to want to change your schedule around so that you can spend the hottest parts of the day inside in the air conditioning. 

If you don't have air conditioning, that is the perfect time to go to the mall, a museum, or even the movies! Don't be afraid to cancel outdoor activities when it is that hot out. You aren't going to be able to enjoy them as much, so push them back to when it is cooler and more fun! 

Then, make sure that you drink properly. Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more! Even if you are only going somewhere for a few minutes, make sure that you have plenty of water along.

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Previously published on Medium and/or Newsbreak.