Hot summer days
It has been so hot the past several days and summer has only just begun. Interestingly, it doesn’t usually get this hot this early in the summer. It got me thinking, we need to make sure we are prepared for the hot summer days ahead! To me, it seems that it is already here.
The extreme heat approached gradually and slowly earlier this week. It took me by surprise. Just this past weekend the temps started out a little cool. In fact, it was just warm enough to enjoy an afternoon stroll with a nice breeze. Saturday, it was noticeably warmer but definitely bearable. However, when Sunday rolled around the temperature in my car read 106 degrees! I could not believe it. This presented to be an especially difficult situation for me considering the air conditioner in my car just went out! I thought I was going to die of heat exhaustion before I could get home. Alas, I made it back to my home that day, and when I walked through the door I had never been so grateful for central cooling and air. The temps are high and they are dangerous, so we all need to take careful precautions as the extreme temperatures continue throughout the week.
Heat waves are the leading cause of heat-related illness - and even death. Luckily, there are several simple precautionary measures that you can take when facing the heat. The most obvious one is to make sure you stay hydrated. I like to start my day with drinking a full glass of water before drinking my coffee, and then I grab a couple of bottles of water to take with me throughout my day. It’s also helpful to wear loose, lightweight clothing and avoid high-energy outdoor activities midday. If you must work outside in the middle of the day, then be sure to be within close distance to an indoor, air-conditioned location. Be sure to check in with your loved ones during this time, especially senior citizens.
A surprising tip that some may not know is to be sure not to use an electric fan if the temperatures are over 95 degrees. Before learning this, I always thought electric fans were a necessity on a hot summer day. However, electric fans can create a false sense of comfort without actually reducing your core body temperature. In other words, fans don’t cool the air and the air flowing over our bodies needs to be cooler than your body temperature to cool you down. Instead of using an electric fan, try using a cooling towel when you are exposed to high temperatures outside. The best way to do this is to soak a hand towel or washcloth in ice water for a few minutes, wring out the excess water, and then take it with you outdoors. This is a perfect solution for heatstroke prevention or for people suffering with side effects of heat stress and hot flashes.
Some may not realize how quickly the heat can make you very sick or even be fatal. And it is important to know the warning signs of heat stress and heat strokes. My little brother, Bobby, experienced what extreme heat can do to the body when he was in high school. My little brother stood about 6 foot 4 inches his sophomore year of high school and pretty much thought that he was invincible.
However, during football camp his sophomore year he got extremely sick from heat stress. That year the coaches decided that the football players should sleep, eat and practice the whole week at the school. They fed the football players breakfast, lunch and supper and they showered at the field house. It seemed harmless at first, but the heat index that week was dangerously high. My brother, like most young and aspiring athletes, pushed himself to the limit one particular day at camp. He pushed himself so hard without taking the proper precautions or paying attention to warning signs that it caused him to have a heat stroke on the field. He was sick for several days after that, and we were all very scared for him. The good Lord was watching over our family and many prayers were answered. But some are not so lucky.
Some warning signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion can be similar but there are a few distinct symptoms. The symptoms of mild to moderate heat exhaustion are feeling dizzy and weak, having a sudden onset of painful muscle spasms during activity, developing tiny red bumps on your skin that feel prickly, or headache, nausea and loss of appetite. The symptoms of a heatstroke include hot dry skin that may look pale or bluish, irregular pulse, deep, fast breathing, decreased blood pressure and an altered mental state.
It is very important to stay cautious of the heat this time of year, especially with the heat index this week. When it is this hot outside I can’t wait until it rains. Usually, when it rains it cools down a little. But, until the temps get cooler let’s all make sure that we stay cool, keep a watch on our friends and family, and most important stay hydrated. Wishing you all a relaxed, cool, and hydrated week!