It is no secret that one of the most common concerns during the summer months is heat-related illnesses. During the summer months, being outside in the sunshine has a number of benefits that you can enjoy. These benefits include improving your sleep, reducing stress, and strengthening the immune system to name a few. While being outside has benefits, if precautions are not taken, heat-related illness can be challenging.
According to The State of California’s Department of Industrial Relations . . . . “”Heat Illness” means a serious medical condition resulting from the body’s inability to cope with a particular heat load, and includes heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and heat stroke”
Monitoring your time exposed to the heat of the day is vital to safety. A site from the United Kingdom talking about Heat Exhaustion and heatstroke states, “Heat exhaustion or heatstroke can develop quickly over a few minutes, or gradually over several hours or days.”
Another California Department of Industrial Relations article states “Heat illness results when the body is out of heat balance. Heat balance means that the heat the body produces equals the heat it looses. When the body is out of Heat balance it produces and retains more heat than it looses causing heat illness.”
Some Tips to Prevent Heat Related Illnesses are:
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Get Plenty to Drink
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Stay Cool Indoors
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Wear Light Clothing and Sunscreen
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Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully
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Pace Yourself
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Use a Buddy System
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