Why and How to Stay Cool When Temps are on the Rise
Heat-Related Illnesses
May 31st is National Heat Awareness Day and this day has been established to educate the public on the precautions they can take to avoid heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat stroke- especially those who work outdoors or spend a lot of time outside when the temperatures heat up. Per the National Weather Service, “during the extremely hot and humid weather, your body’s ability to cool itself is challenged. When the body heats too rapidly to cool properly or when too much fluid or salt is lost through dehydration or sweating, body temperature rises and you or someone you care about may experience heat-related illnesses.”
This graphic from the CDC is a helpful resource to help you be able to identify heat exhaustion from heat stroke as, though they may both be heat-induced, they are very different conditions:
Ways to Keep Cool
In the spirit of bringing about awareness to heat-related illnesses, it is vitally important that we understand the steps that we can take to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Below is a list of ways that we can be more mindful in “heated” times:
- Wear loose-fitted, lightweight clothing (avoid dark colors as darker colors attract sunlight)
- Stay in an air-conditioned environment as long as possible
- KEEP IN MIND that electric fans may provide comfort but when we are experiencing extremely high temperatures, they will not be as effective in preventing heat-related illnesses as an air conditioner would be
- Schedule outdoor activities carefully – be cognizant of how much time is being spent outside in the sun, identify shaded areas to relax in and try to limit your activity to when the temperatures are at their coolest (typically early morning or evening when the sun goes down)
- Wear sunscreen (broad spectrum or ones labelled as “UVA/UVB protection”) and/or protect yourself from harmful UV rays by wearing a hat and sunglasses
- Avoid eating hot and heavy meals
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids- don’t just wait until you are thirsty!
- NOTE water can be purchased that is pH balanced and contain electrolytes. This is an ideal thirst quencher in the summer as electrolytes are key in avoiding and/or recovering from dehydration
- Tune in to your local weather channel and pay attention to extreme heat alerts
Time for a Tune Up
For those with central air/HVAC systems, NOW is the time to schedule your routine maintenance if you haven’t already. Experts suggest servicing your home air conditioning system once a year (just as they recommend for your heating system in the fall) and spring has notoriously become the best time to get this done. Routine maintenance of your HVAC system can help with many things such as:
- Increased energy efficiency and lowering utility bills
- Preserving the condition of the unit,
- Reducing the amount of system malfunctions
- Improving overall air quality in the home
Seek out professional help from an expert to ensure that the check-up and servicing is done properly and thoroughly.
