| With temperatures already in the 90s, and the heat index soaring above 100 degrees, the Summer of 2010 is shaping up to be a hot one, and that can spell danger for anyone who is susceptible to heat-related illnesses.
To stay cool, even in extreme heat, Saint John Hospital and Providence Medical Center offer the following tips:
• Drink plenty of fluids. Water is the best liquid. If you are outside when the temperate is in the 90s or above, drink a gallon of water a day to make up for fluid lost through perspiration evaporation. Avoid caffeinated beverages. They dehydrate the body.
• Wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 or above. Apply it at least 30 minutes before going out in the sun and reapply it as necessary. Sunburned skin can raise your body temperature, making you more susceptible to heat-related illness.
• Provide infants and young children with extra fluids and keep them out of the sun.
• Check on older neighbors and relatives without air conditioning to be certain they stay cool.
• Never leave children in a car, especially during the summer. According to the Kansas Department of Health, a young child’s core body temperature can rise three to five times faster than an adult’s. Research shows on a 95-degree day, the temperature in a small vehicle can exceed 122 degrees within 20 minutes and 150 degrees within 40 minutes.
• Wear loose, light-colored clothing.
• Take cool showers or baths.
• Eat light meals, such as salads and fresh fruits and increase the amount of potassium in the diet. Perspiration strips the body of salt and potassium. Apricots, bananas, cantaloupes, oranges, beans, broccoli, potatoes and tomatoes are rich in potassium.
• Reduce outside activities, or try to schedule outdoor activities either before noon or in the evening. If you work outdoors, rest frequently in the shade. |
