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There is hot, and then there is hot!
With temperatures increasing this summer, it's important to pay attention to how the heat is impacting our bodies. In extreme heat -- which is considered a prolonged period of high heat and humidity -- our bodies work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature. Each year, extreme heat causes more deaths than other weather-related hazards.
Here are some ways to keep cool this summer:
• Drink water. Keep you and your pets hydrated. Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. And always, have a water bowl handy for your four-legged friends.
• Find air conditioning. If your home does not have air conditioning, try to hang out in a place that does. Check to see if your community sets up emergency alternatives for cooling centers, as normal cooling centers might not have enough space. Even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Also, keep in mind that while electric fans might provide comfort - when the temperature is in the high 90s - they will not prevent heat-related illness.
• Insulate your house. You can keep your house cooler by insulating it and covering your windows with drapes or shades. Use window reflectors, such as aluminum foil-covered cardboard, to reflect heat back outside.
• Wear sunscreen. Sunburn affects our body's ability to cool down and can cause you to become dehydrated. If you have to go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out.
• Never leave pets or people in a closed vehicle. Vehicles can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. While anyone left in a parked vehicle is at risk, children are especially in danger of getting heat stroke or dying.
• Avoid strenuous activities. Try to limit outdoor activity to when it's coolest: morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas, so that your body has a chance to recover.
• In instances where there is extreme heat, it's also important to recognize the signs of heat-related illness. There are three main types: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• For heat cramps, you want to look out for muscle pains or spasms in the stomach, arms or legs. If this happens, immediately find a cooler location and remove excess clothing.
• For heat exhaustion, you might experience some heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness or vomiting. You should immediately go to an air-conditioned place, remove clothing or take a cool bath.
• For heat stroke, you might experience a high internal body temperature - above 103 degrees - rapid and strong pulse, red skin, dizziness or confusion. You should call 911 then attempt to cool your body in whatever ways are available to you.
• If you experience any of the symptoms of heat-related illness, you should also take sips of a cool sports drink, which helps you replenish vitamins lost when sweating.
• For more information about how to handle extreme heat, visit www.ready.gov/heat.