Dont over Heat this Summer

Q.} Now that summer is here, what are the best methods for preventing heat exhaustion and heat stroke?

A.} All things considered, you have asked a pretty big question. I think, however, we can reduce the guidelines to seven important points:

1. Stay well hydrated. Urine output should be clear and relatively copious, an indication of adequate hydration. Water or sports drinks are best; avoid alcohol and heavily caffeinated beverages. (It is practically impossible to drink too much water, but you can do it if you're not snacking regularly.)

2. Munch on lightly salted snacks.

3. Wear baggy, loosely woven clothing that allows evaporation of sweat. Keep your head covered.

4. Keep yourself fit, and allow time for acclimatization when you're new to a hot environment. Start slowly and avoid the hottest times of day.

5. Beware of drugs that increase your risk of heat illness.

6. Rest often in the shade.

7. Pace yourself every day. When internal heat starts to become a problem, almost everyone begins to feel it. That's when you should stop, rest, drink, and wait until you feel okay again.

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A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

Here's another:

Get plenty of sleep at night. Cool

A U.S. Army study found a correlation between heat illness, lack of sleep, and fatigue. Shocked

Plenty of good sleep restores your body and prepares it for what you have to put it through to get through the day. Sleep is very important.

All the things you listed are just as important, though. Good job. Smile

Anybody else know of anything we left out?

I don't think anything has been left out, but I think staying hydrated is the most important thing you can do in the summer. Smile

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Don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink. Prehydrate by drinking water just prior to going out, then drink at regular intervals without waiting to feel thirsty.

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"The monkeys are throwing stuff at me again."
-Survivorman in Costa Rica

	BushRat wrote:
	Don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink. Prehydrate by drinking water just prior to going out, then drink at regular intervals without waiting to feel thirsty.

I don't know how other people I'm with can drink like twice, and I'm drinking my heart out all day. Confused

I just make sure I drink often enough. I've been dehydrated before and I don't want to get dehydrated again. I don't want to get headaches from not drinking also.

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Over heating in the summer is the worst feeling.
I wrote in another thread, many years ago while cycling a BIG hill in the middle of a summer day at about 80 F i made it to the top and then,.......... wham, i seen checkers, my skin was cold and clammy ? bizzare feeling's. I was so close to purging, lol.
It took me 1 hour before i felt like moveing from under a tree i crawled too.
It took me 2 hours to cycle where is was & took me 4 hours to get back. I was screwed up for 2 days after that.
So now im very,very careful in the heat while riding. You cant drink enufe liquids as far as im concerned in the summer while cycling, hiking, working in it. It can kill you in extreme cases.

_________________
A Knifeless Man is a Lifeless Man
Canadian To The Core
Carry Less by Knowing More
Knowledge Weighs Nothing

all great advice thanks. I sweat more if I have something on my head.

I know drummer dave. a couple of days ago I took a walk in 80 degree heat. I had my wet cold bandana over my neck but it was so hot it dried out quickly, I had to sit in the shade under a bridge on the trail, and drink water, this guy came buy and asked if I was ok I said yes. walked slowly back. and went to the park almost passed out.so I sat under a tree. luckly I had plenty of water with me.I made it home o.k. Cool

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Depending on the conditions. I sometimes wear a straw hat. It lets some air circulate so your head doesn't get as hot as it can under other types of headgear.

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"The monkeys are throwing stuff at me again."
-Survivorman in Costa Rica

Mystik Spiral wrote:

	BushRat wrote:
	Don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink. Prehydrate by drinking water just prior to going out, then drink at regular intervals without waiting to feel thirsty.

I don't know how other people I'm with can drink like twice, and I'm drinking my heart out all day. Confused

I just make sure I drink often enough. I've been dehydrated before and I don't want to get dehydrated again. I don't want to get headaches from not drinking also.

Yeah, the other day I was riding horses, and when I got back my 3 liter Camelbak was empty. Shocked

I was suckin' on it all day. Smile

Stay hydrated people. Cool

flashlightfreak9 wrote:

Mystik Spiral wrote:

	BushRat wrote:
	Don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink. Prehydrate by drinking water just prior to going out, then drink at regular intervals without waiting to feel thirsty.

I don't know how other people I'm with can drink like twice, and I'm drinking my heart out all day. Confused

I just make sure I drink often enough. I've been dehydrated before and I don't want to get dehydrated again. I don't want to get headaches from not drinking also.

Yeah, the other day I was riding horses, and when I got back my 3 liter Camelbak was empty. Shocked

I was suckin' on it all day. Smile

Stay hydrated people. Cool

Yeah I learned that 2 quarts wont last all day. Shocked

Sometimes I carry my water filter just in case my bottles run empty. Cool

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thats a good idea. I was thinking of maybe a strawhat. Very Happy

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	Mystik Spiral wrote:
	Yeah I learned that 2 quarts wont last all day. Sometimes I carry my water filter just in case my bottles run empty.

That is a very smart thing to do, because if you end up spending an unexpected night or two in the woods, you will have clean, safe water to drink. Cool

but we must remember that you shouldn't chug your water. drink it slowly. If you drink too much water too fast you can get just as sick. I know what its like to be over heated. I though I had been drinking enough water but I guess for what I was dong I was not. It really is a very miserable and just plane helpless kind of feeling.

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"Wish I was an English muffin" - Punky's Dilemma by Simon and Garfunkel

oh thanks wildthing for the great advice. Very Happy

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Yes, that's right, wt. Take small sips often. Cool