Summer Heat Safety Tips
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that’s especially true when it comes to beating the heat! Heat exhaustion is a serious concern during the summer, so if you’re planning on spending time outdoors, make sure to read the Safety Council of Palm Beach’s top 3 tips for staying safe in the summer heat.
Stay alert
Heat exhaustion is caused when the body loses an excessive amount of water and salt from sweating. Uncontrolled heat exhaustion can quickly turn into heat stroke if not treated in time. To make sure that doesn’t happen, make sure to watch out for the signs and symptoms of heat stroke and react accordingly.
Here’s what to look out for:
- Sweating
- Pale, ashen or moist skin
- Muscle cramps (especially for those working or exercising outdoors in high temperatures)
- Fatigue, weakness or exhaustion
- Headache, dizziness or fainting
- Nausea or vomiting
- Rapid heart rate
Don’t be a fish out of water
A simple way to prevent heat exhaustion is making sure you’re staying hydrated. If you know you’re going to be spending time out in the sun, make sure to have enough water around to replace the fluid you’ll lose from sweating. A good rule of thumb is to drink roughly half your body weight in ounces in water. So, say you weigh 160 pounds, you should be drinking around 80 ounces of water per day. Sometimes water might not be enough, so supplement water with appropriate drinks like Gatorade or Pedialyte to maintain electrolyte balance
Drive smart
Children and pets are more susceptible to the summer heat than adults, especially if left in hot cars. In 2018, 52 children died of pediatric vehicular heatstroke in the U.S. Taking steps to protect your most vulnerable loved ones is especially important during times of extreme heat. To help with additional precautions to prevent leaving your precious cargo exposed to extreme temperatures, The Safety Council of Palm Beach’s Baby In Back! Bracelet Reminder System is a great way to keep your children safe during the summer.
The best treatment for heat exhaustion is to prevent it from happening. Keep yourself and your family safe this summer by educating yourself and staying aware. For more summer safety tips, contact the Safety Council of Palm Beach County today by calling (561) 845-8233 or email [email protected].