Spread the love

The title of this article may come as a surprise to some people but in reality, it is really possible to offer tips on dehydration during heat wave to earn money. Money can be made online in an almost unlimited variety of ways. All you need is a little creativity and you will soon be getting cool cash from something that you never thought could be a money earner.

  • How to Earn Money by Offering Tips on Dehydration During Heat Wave
  • Heat Wave Survival Tips
  • Advice For Staying Cool in a Heat Wave
  • How do You Stay Hydrated During a Heat Wave?
  • How Can You Make Working in The Heat Easier?
  • How do You Cool Yourself Down in a Heat Wave?
  • Tips For Preventing Heat-related Illness
  • Hot Weather Safety For Older Adults
  • Extreme Heat Safety Tips
  • Effects of Hot Weather on The Body
  • How to Keep Elderly Cool in Hot Weather
  • Elderly And Heat Intolerance
  • Heat Wave Safety Tips
  • Summer Heat Safety Tips
  • Warning Signs of a Heat Wave
  • Hot Weather Advice For Elderly
  • How do You Survive a Heat Wave Without Electricity?

How to Earn Money by Offering Tips on Dehydration During Heat Wave

The Opportunity

When the weather becomes unbearably hot, a lot of people start looking for ways to get some relief and the internet is one of the first places that they turn to. This is the ready market that you are going to sell to.

Read Also: Sell Poinsettias During Christmas Season To Earn Easy Money

There are two basic ways to sell to this market. You can either put up a blog or website dedicated to tips about getting cool in hot weather or write an informational eBook on the topic. You can even combine the two methods to make more money!

Setting Up Your Website

A website or simple blog is the easiest thing to setup these days. You can buy your own domain name and hosting or just go with a free blog. Your website will have to be divided into categories to make it convenient for visitors to navigate. You can have categories for saving energy during a heat wave, money saving tips during a heat wave, avoiding dehydration, avoiding car trouble during hot weather, keeping your house cooler and another one for keeping your pets cool during a heat wave.

Write Your Articles

You can either write your articles by yourself or outsource the writing to a freelance writer. Make sure you have about five categories with two articles each before launching the site. This will make it look like a serious website when you start getting visitors. Make sure that you provide quality information in these articles.

Monetizing Your Website

Since the aim of the website is to offer tips on dehydration during heat wave to earn money, you have to find an appropriate way to monetize your content. You can consider a combination of affiliate products and Adsense. Adsense may be a bit slow but affiliate marketing can give you some quick returns. Make sure you promote products that match the content of your website.

Heat Wave Survival Tips

A heat wave is a prolonged period of unusually high temperatures for a region. Interestingly, there is no universal definition in terms of “how high.” To be considered a heat wave, the temperatures have to be outside the historical averages for a given area.

That said, we often think of a heat wave typically lasting 2 or 3 (more more) days—and generally 10 degrees or more above average. 

Heat waves happen when there is trapped air that will feel like the inside of an oven! Usually, the culprit is a high-pressure system that forces air downward.

This force prevents air near the ground from rising. The sinking air acts like a cap. It traps warm ground air in place. Without rising air, there was no rain, and nothing to prevent the hot air from getting hotter.

Young children, those who are sick, and the elderly are most susceptible to heat-related illnesses. However, anyone can suffer from a heat-related illness if they over-exert themselves or simply don’t take extreme heat warnings seriously.

While extreme cold is also dangerous, heat waves become life-threatening more quickly if proper precautions are not taken. In recent years, excessive heat has caused more deaths than all other weather events, including floods. Of all natural disasters, heat holds the highest 10-year average of fatalities with 113. 

Do you know what to do during a heat wave?

  1. Stay hydrated with plenty of water—even if you’re not thirsty. Hot weather causes you to sweat, and it’s vital to replenish the lost fluids or you’ll overheat. Have a water bottle within reach as you go about your day to avoid dehydration.
     
  2. Never leave children or pets alone in hot vehicles—even for a second. Keep your pets indoors and make sure they have access to a cool space and plenty of water.
     
  3. Stay inside during the hottest part of the day (10 A.M to 4 P.M.) and limit time outside in the Sun. Avoid strenuous activity and postpone outdoor games and events. 
     
  4. When you’re in the outdoors, make sure you stay out of direct sunlight as much as possible. Wear a hat or even carry an umbrella. Wear sunscreen!
     
  5. Set your air conditioners to a lower temperature and use curtains or blinds to keep direct sunlight out.  If A/C is not available, stay indoors on the lowest floor in a well-ventilated area with fans. Keep shades and blinds closed. If you don’t have air conditioners, place a tray or dish of ice in front of a fan and it’ll help to cool your room quickly. 
     
  6. Don’t drink alcohol, sugary soda, coffee, energy drinks, or other caffeinated beverages, as they dehydrate you! That’s the last thing you need during a heat wave.
     
  7. Eat small meals and eat more often.  Eat food with nutrients (not empty carbs) and also food with higher water content (fruits and vegetables). 
     
  8. Wear light, loose-fitting, airy, light-colored clothing and a hat made of breathable material. Tight clothing traps heat. 
     
  9. Check on family and friends who are elder or more susceptible, especially if they may have lost A/C. If you or someone you know is experiencing heat-related issues (rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, headaches, muscle cramps, vomiting, diarrhea), call your doctor.
     
  10. If you feel overheated, cool off with wet washcloths on your wrists and neck or take a cool sponge bath or shower. Carry a cold water bottle spray or cooling facial mist with you, and spritz cold water on your pressure points to bring your body temperature down.

During heat waves, tune to a NOAA radio station and listen for weather updates from the National Weather Service (NWS).

Advice For Staying Cool in a Heat Wave

The usual precautions have been issued: covering up, wearing sunscreen, keeping your house cool, and drinking plenty of water. From how to dress your little one for bed to how to create shade in your garden and trying one of our homemade ice lolly recipes we have a range of advice to help keep your little ones safe in the sun.

Keep hydrated

Bring your body temperature down by drinking cool glasses of water regularly. Dehydration can be caused by sweat, which can be make you susceptible to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Wet paper towels

If you’re looking for the quickest way to cool your bottled drinks (or beers, wines etc!) simply wrap a wet paper towel around the bottle and put it in the freezer.

Eat less meat

Large amounts of protein found in red meat and some fish can increase the body’s metabolic heat as it attempts to break down the heavy food. Your body warms up as it works to process larger meals. Metabolic heat is needed to break down food, so eating smaller portions more regularly can help keep you cooler.

Avoid caffeine

Caffeine can make you feel hot and jittery in the heat and affect your productivity. Switch to a healthy smoothie while the heatwave lasts.

Don’t overdo the anti-perspirant

Excessive use can prevent the body’s natural heat loss mechanism. This can block sweat pores and prevent body from cooling down effectively.

Wear your sports gear

Sports wear is perfectly designed to deal with sweat, which will keep you cool in the sun.

Keep your moisturiser in the fridge

Treat yourself to a seriously cool treat with this tip. It’ll also prevent your moisturiser from going off or melting.

Keep your feet cool

There are plenty of pulse points around the feet and ankles, so dunking your feet into an ice bucket can help take your temperature down.

Wear socks

Seems a little odd, but wearing socks in the heat can help you stay cool and fresh. Socks can help to absorb the sweat, keeping your feet cool and clean.

Shut out the sun

Keep blinds and curtains closed during the day as a preventative measure to stop your room from overheating. To keep your house cool, you need to keep the hot air out – this means keeping windows (particularly south-facing windows) closed and covered with blinds or curtains during the hottest daytime hours. Then, when the temperature has dropped at night time, you can open everything up to let the cooler air travel through your home.

How do You Stay Hydrated During a Heat Wave?

Water is the basis for life. It is second only to oxygen in importance for health, making up to 75% of the body. Although water does not provide a source of calories, adequate hydration is at least as important to good athletic performance as the food you eat and is essential for efficient training, playing and racing.

Proper hydration not only quenches one’s thirst but allows the body to flush toxins, maintain system equilibrium (balance), support brain function, hormone balance, metabolic processes (including fat metabolism), the  transportation of life-giving vitamins and minerals, and supports the integrity of muscle, joint and bone in our bodies.

Although the human body can, in extreme cases, go without food for up to six weeks, it can only survive a week without water. As a general rule, it is recommended that the average person consume at least eight, 8-ounce servings of water each day (2 litres a day). The more time you spend outdoors and the more active you are, the more water you need to replenish lost fluids. Replenishing fluids is especially important when exercising in hot and humid weather conditions as your body tends to sweat more.

Tips for Proper Hydration:

  • Start and end your day with a 250 ml serving of water. Your body loses water while you sleep, so drink a serving before bed and again when you wake up.
  • Drink before you are thirsty. By the time you feel thirsty; you have probably already lost two or more cups of your total body water composition. Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Carry a bottle of water with you daily. Keep a bottle of water on your desk and refill at the office water cooler regularly.
  • Don’t substitute with alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is a diuretic and will cause you to lose water through increased urination.
  • It’s important to note that although coffee and tea do have a diuretic effect, they do provide a significant amount of fluid and any effect of caffeine on urine losses are minor (especially for habitual caffeine users).
  • Keep drinking water even when it is cold outside. You may not feel thirsty as you do when it’s hot, but you are still going to lose water through perspiration. You also lose fluids through exhaled air. When cold, dry air is inhaled, it is warmed and moistened in the lungs and exhaled as humid warm air. This process makes intense demands on the body’s water supply.
  • Average sweat rates can vary from 0.5L/hour to more than 2.5L/hour. Knowing your sweat rate will help you to better prepare for both training and competition. Calculate your sweat rate. Taking the time to calculate how much you sweat is a fundamental consideration for optimal hydration.

How Can You Make Working in The Heat Easier?

As summer approaches and the days get longer, the dangers of working outside during hot weather also increases. Knowing how to work safely in hot weather can help prevent heat stress injuries and heat stroke. 

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), heat stroke is the most serious heat-related disorder and occurs when the body can no longer control its temperature. The body temperature can rise to 106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within 10 to 15 minutes and heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

  1. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids; drink about 16 ounces before starting and 5 to 7 ounces every 15 or 20 minutes.
  2. Avoid dehydrating liquids. Alcohol, coffee, tea and caffeinated soft drinks can hurt more than help.
  3. Wear protective clothing. Lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing helps protect against heat. Change clothing if it gets completely saturated.
  4. Pace yourself. Slow down and work at an even pace. Know your own limits and ability to work safely in heat.
  5. Schedule frequent breaks. Take time for rest periods and water breaks in a shaded or air conditioned area.
  6. Use a damp rag. Wipe your face or put it around your neck.
  7. Avoid getting sunburn. Use sunscreen and wear a hat if working outside.
  8. Be alert to signs of heat-related illness. Know what to look for and check on other workers that might be at high risk.
  9. Avoid direct sun. Find shade or block out the sun if possible.
  10. Eat smaller meals. Eat fruits high in fiber and natural juice. Avoid high protein foods.

How do You Cool Yourself Down in a Heat Wave?

While hot weather is nice, and you’ve never looked better than with that killer tan, it’s crucial to know how to keep yourself cool. Heat stroke—or worse, hyperthermia—are very real things. When your body produces way too much heat, or absorbs way too much heat, it can cause some serious damage.

Without further ado, here are some tips on how you can keep yourself cool, even when it’s heating up.

1. Drink lots and lots of water

Hydration is key when your body is trying to maintain homeostasis, or the regulated state (in this case, at a decent temperature). Sweating, though kind of unappealing sometimes, is your body’s way of cooling you down.
Contrary to popular belief, while iced water is your safest bet in cooling you down, things like pop or energy drinks will also help you cool down. Any liquid is better than no liquid.
Having said that, make sure you’re not drinking coffee, as it’s a diuretic and can have dehydrating effects.

2. Avoid the sun between 11am to 2pm

The sun is the hottest between 11am and 2pm, and sunburns are most likely to happen during that period. Limiting your exposure will limit your chances of overheating.
If you can’t get around not being outside during those hours, make sure you dress appropriately.

3. Dress appropriately

Wear loose, breathable (think: cotton) clothing and footwear that won’t leave your feet sweaty. Hats are also crucial for blazing hot weather, keeping you cool by providing shade. Sunglasses will protect your eyes from damaging UV rays.

4. Refrigerate or freeze your bedsheets

Once you try this trick, you’ll wonder why you haven’t thought of it before. Place your bedsheets in your fridge or freezer for a half an hour before you sleep, and you’ll never have trouble falling asleep because of the heat again.
Also consider investing in soft gel packs that you can place underneath your sheets, or tucked between your legs (wrapped in a tea towel).

5. Cool down your “hot zones”

Your pressure points are your secret key to happiness! Applying a little ice pack or a bottle filled with iced water will help you cool down immediately.
These pressure points are:
– Ankles
– Behind the knees
– Wrists
– Elbow bends
– Neck
– Temples

Tips For Preventing Heat-related Illness

Stay Cool

Wear Appropriate Clothing: Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

Stay Cool Indoors: Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library—even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.

  • Keep in mind: Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, they will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.

Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully: Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.

Pace Yourself: Cut down on exercise during the heat. If you’re not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.

Wear Sunscreen: Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions.

  • Tip: Look for sunscreens that say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection” on their labels- these products work best.

Do Not Leave Children in Cars: Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children are especially at risk of getting a heat stroke or dying. When traveling with children, remember to do the following:

  • Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.
  • To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with the driver.
  • When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any children who have fallen asleep in the car.

Avoid Hot and Heavy Meals: They add heat to your body!

Stay Hydrated

Drink Plenty of Fluids: Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.

  • Warning: If your doctor limits the amount you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
  • Stay away from very sugary or alcoholic drinks—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.

Replace Salt and Minerals: Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.

  • If you are on a low-salt diet, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.

Keep Your Pets Hydrated: Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets, and leave the water in a shady area.

Stay Informed

Check for Updates: Check your local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips and to learn about any cooling shelters in your area.

Know the Signs: Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.

Use a Buddy System: When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.

Monitor Those at High Risk: Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others:

  • Infants and young children
  • People 65 years of age or older
  • People who are overweight
  • People who overexert during work or exercise
  • People who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation

Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.

Hot Weather Safety For Older Adults

While summer brings us warmth and bloom, prolonged exposure to excessive heat in summer months can be dangerous. This is especially true for older adults. Every summer, more than 600 Americans die of health problems caused by excessive heat and humidity.

Older adults and individuals with chronic medical conditions are at high risk of developing heat-related illnesses, because of aging-related physical changes in the body, chronic health conditions, and even effects of taking some medications.

When the temperature climbs above 80°F, older adults need to be proactive and take precautions to avoid ailments due to excessive heat. Keep in mind the following tips when trying to stay cool.

  • Stay away from direct sun exposure as much as possible. If possible, plan your outdoor activities either early in the morning or when the sun starts to set. 
  • Air conditioning is your friend in summer. Spend as much time as possible in air-conditioned spaces. If you don’t have an air conditioner, go somewhere that is air-conditioned. For example, read a book at the library, walk around in indoor malls, watch that new movie at the theater, or meet your friends at the senior center. (Note:  The federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps adults 65 and older who have limited incomes cover the cost of air conditioners and utility bills. To reach your state’s LIHEAP program, call 1-866-674-6327.)
  • Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of cool water, clear juices, and other liquids that don’t contain alcohol or caffeine. Alcohol and caffeine cause you to lose water in your body by making you urinate more.
  • Dress appropriately. Whenever you can, try wearing loose, light-colored clothes. Avoid dark-colored clothes as they may absorb heat. Top it off with a lightweight, broad-brimmed hat and you are dressing like a pro! These simple changes will help you both stay cool and avoid sunburn.
  • Did someone say sunburn? Buy a broad spectrum sunscreen lotion or spray with sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Apply the sunscreen liberally to all exposed skin. Also, bugs are abundant in summer, so spray insect repellent when going outdoors.
  • Cool down! Take tepid (not too cold or too hot) showers, baths, or sponge baths when you’re feeling warm.  Don’t have the time?  Then wet washcloths or towels with cool water and put them on your wrists, ankles, armpits, and neck.

Extreme Heat Safety Tips

Extreme heat is a prolonged period of very hot weather, which may include high humidity. In Massachusetts, a “heat wave” is usually defined as a period of three or more consecutive days above 90 °F.

Before Extreme Heat

  • Be Informed by receiving alerts, warnings, and public safety information before, during, and after emergencies.
  • Create and review your family emergency plan.
  • Assemble an emergency kit.
  • Prepare your home for possible emergencies.
    • Install air conditioners snugly, insulating if necessary.
    • Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun. Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent.

What to do During Extreme Heat

  • Never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle. Even with the windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20°F within 10 minutes.
  • Slow down and avoid strenuous activity.
  • Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Light colors reflect heat and sunlight, and help maintain normal body temperature.
  • Drink plenty of water — even if you are not thirsty. Avoid alcoholic beverages and liquids high in sugar or caffeine. If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink, ask how much you should drink during hot weather.
  • Eat well-balanced, light, regular meals.
  • Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun. Do not leave pets outside for extended periods of time.
  • If you must be outdoors, limit your outdoor activity to the morning and evening hours. Try to rest often in shady areas so your body temperature will have a chance to recover. Use sunscreen with a high SPF and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • If you do not have air conditioning, stay on your lowest floor, out of the sun. Use fans to stay cool and avoid using your stove and oven. Consider spending time in air-conditioned public spaces, such as schools, libraries, theaters, and other community facilities.
  • Check with your local authorities or Call 2-1-1 to find locations of cooling centers or shelters near you.
  • On hot days, more people cool off around bodies of water. Playing in and around water can increase the risk of drowning.
  • If there are power outages during warm weather, you may need to take additional precautions or go to a cooling center or emergency shelter to stay cool.
  • Know the symptoms of and watch out for heat-related illnesses. Call 9-1-1 to report emergencies.
  • Be a good neighbor. Check on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly, those who live alone, those with medical conditions, those who may need additional assistance, and those who may not have air conditioning.

Effects of Hot Weather on The Body

Hot days can lead people to suffer from dehydration, heat exhaustion, and in extreme cases, heat stroke. But hot days are also associated with higher risk of a number of other conditions that are not typically thought to be “heat-related,” such as [kidney] problems, skin infections, and preterm birth among pregnant women.

In fact, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydration account for a relatively small fraction of the total [health risks] associated with days of extreme heat. And interestingly, it’s not just extreme heat that poses a risk. Even moderately hot days can place vulnerable individuals at higher risk.

A growing body of evidence suggests that days of high temperatures may negatively affect our mental health. For example, a recent study in New York found that hot days were associated with higher risk of emergency room visits for substance abuse, mood and anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and dementia.

Other studies show that hot weather is linked to lower performance on standardized tests, higher risk of judgment errors, and higher risks of occupational injuries. So, although there is a lot more work to do to get the full picture, it is becoming clear that heat has important effects on cognition, mood, and other aspects of our mental health and well-being.

How to Keep Elderly Cool in Hot Weather

Too much heat is not safe for anyone. It is even riskier if you are older or have health problems. It is important to get relief from the heat quickly. If not, you might begin to feel confused or faint. Your heart could become stressed and stop beating.

Being hot for too long can be a problem. It can cause several illnesses, all grouped under the name hyperthermia

Things you can do to lower your risk of heat-related illness:

  • Drink plenty of liquids, such as water or fruit or vegetable juices. Stay away from drinks containing alcohol or caffeine. If your doctor has told you to limit your liquids, ask what you should do when it is very hot.
  • If you live in a home or apartment without fans or air conditioning, try to keep your house as cool as possible. Limit your use of the oven. Keep your shades, blinds, or curtains closed during the hottest part of the day. Open your windows at night.
  • If your house is hot, try to spend time during mid-day some place that has air conditioning—for example, go to the shopping mall, movies, library, senior center, or a friend’s house.
  • If you need help getting to a cool place, ask a friend or relative. Some religious groups, senior centers, and Area Agencies on Aging provide this service. If necessary, take a taxi or call for senior transportation. Don’t stand outside in the heat waiting for a bus.
  • Dress for the weather. Some people find natural fabrics, such as cotton, to be cooler than synthetic fibers.
  • Don’t try to exercise or do a lot of activities outdoors when it’s hot.
  • Avoid crowded places when it’s hot outside. Plan trips during non-rush-hour times.

Elderly And Heat Intolerance

People aged 65 years or older are more prone to heat-related health problems. If you’re an older adult or a caretaker, review the information below on how you or the person you’re caring for can stay safe during the heat.

  • Older adults do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in temperature.
  • They are more likely to have a chronic medical condition that changes normal body responses to heat.
  • They are more likely to take prescription medicines that affect the body’s ability to control its temperature or sweat.
  • Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If your home doesn’t have air conditioning, contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area.
  • Do not rely on a fan as your main cooling source when it’s really hot outside.
  • Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. If your doctor limits the amount of fluids you drink or has you on water pills, ask them how much you should drink during hot weather.
  • Don’t use the stove or oven to cook—it will make you and your house hotter.
  • Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
  • Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
  • Do not engage in very strenuous activities and get plenty of rest.
  • Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.

Heat Wave Safety Tips

There is hot, and then there is hot! Extreme heat is a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days. In extreme heat your body works extra hard to maintain a normal temperature, which can lead to death. Extreme heat is responsible for the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards.

Stay Connected

  • Never leave infants, children, older adults, individuals with disabilities or pets in a vehicle unattended. Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open.
  • Check-in on older adults and individuals with chronic health conditions at least twice daily. When visiting, ask yourself these questions: 
    • Are they drinking enough water? 
    • Do they have access to air conditioning? 
    • Do they know how to keep cool? 
    • Do they show any signs of heat stress? 
  • Be on the lookout for signs of heat-related illness. Act right away if you notice someone with symptoms. 
  • If someone is showing signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke seek emergency medical care immediately.

Stay Hydrated

  • Drink plenty of fluids: Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Avoid sugary, caffeinated or alcoholic drinks. Avoid icy beverages because they can cause stomach cramps. 
  • Replace salt and minerals: Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from your body that need to be replaced. A sports drink or a snack can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. 
  • Keep pets hydrated: Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets and leave the water in a shady area. 
  • Warning: If your doctor limits the amount of water you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot. If you are on a low-salt diet, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage. 

Stay Cool

  • Stay cool indoors: Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible.  
  • Wear appropriate clothing: Choose lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing. 
  • Don’t use an electric fan when the indoor air temperature is over 95°F. Using a fan can be more harmful than helpful when indoor air temperatures are hotter than your body temperature. Fan use may cause your body to gain heat instead of losing it. Focus on staying hydrated, taking a cool shower or bath to cool your body, shutting out the sun and heat with curtains, and moving to an airconditioned place to cool off.
  • Use your stove and oven less. 
  • Schedule outdoor work and other activities carefully: Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, such as morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover. 
  • Cut down on exercise during the heat. 
  • When outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen that says “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection.” 

Summer Heat Safety Tips

Summer is the season for working and playing outdoors at Princeton. It’s also the time to emphasize the importance of preventing and treating heat-related illness.

The common denominator of heat illness prevention is: Water, Rest, Shade. Getting plenty of all three when outdoors is the best way to beat the heat and stay out of trouble.  

Heat Safety Tips

University Health Services recommends the following actions to stay safe in the summer heat: 

  • Stay hydrated throughout the day by drinking water steadily; don’t wait until you’re thirsty.
  • Avoid caffeine and alcohol which cause us to lose water more rapidly.
  • Take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors in an air conditioned space.
  • Wear loose fitting, lightly colored and lightweight clothes.
  • Check on friends and neighbors.
  • Minimize use of heat-generating appliances like stoves or ovens.
  • Do not exercise outdoors. If you must exercise outdoors, only exercise in the early morning hours, before 8 a.m.
  • Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
  • Check the local news and other outlets for important safety information.

Warning Signs of a Heat Wave

  • High body temperature (103°F or higher)
  • Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
  • Fast, strong pulse
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Confusion
  • Losing consciousness (passing out)
  • Heavy sweating
  • Cold, pale, and clammy skin
  • Fast, weak pulse
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Muscle cramps
  • Tiredness or weakness
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Fainting (passing out)

Hot Weather Advice For Elderly

Most of us look forward to the warmer weather and feeling some sun on our faces. But it’s important to be prepared for hot weather as high temperatures can be dangerous to your health.

We’ve all caught the sun before, either on holiday or at home. You might enjoy a tan or deliberately use the sun cream a bit sparingly. But getting sunburnt can be serious, and increase your risk of skin cancer. Anyone can develop skin cancer, so it’s important to protect your skin, whatever your skin type.

Protecting your skin

  • Use sunscreen of at least SPF 30. Apply it generously and top up at least every two hours. If you’ve been in water, reapply when you are dry. 
  • Apply sunscreen to any uncovered parts of your body. A hat will protect your head, face, ears and eyes.
  • Choose sunglasses that have a CE mark, UV400 label or a statement that they offer 100 per cent UV (ultraviolet) protection.
  • When the weather is hot, your skin may also feel drier than usual. Using moisturiser can help keep your skin healthy.
  • If you have moles or brown patches on your skin, they usually remain harmless. But if they bleed, or change size, shape or colour, show them to your doctor without delay.

Sun exposure and vitamin D

Although it’s important to protect your skin, some direct exposure to the sun is essential for the production of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is linked to cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disease and bone problems such as osteoporosis.

  • There are some food sources of vitamin D – salmon, sardines and other oily fish, eggs and fortified spreads – but sunshine is the major source.
  • Don’t let your skin burn, but try to go outside once or twice every day without sunscreen for short periods from March to October. The more of your skin that is exposed, the better your chance of making enough vitamin D.
  • The Government recommends vitamin D supplements for some groups of the population, including people aged 65 and over.
  • If you think you could be at risk of not getting enough vitamin D, particularly if you are housebound or cover your skin for cultural reasons, raise this with your doctor. Always speak to your doctor before starting to take a vitamin supplement or over-the-counter medicine on a daily basis.

How do You Survive a Heat Wave Without Electricity?

If you’re planning on making it through the summer, it’s essential that you come up with a few ways to stay cool without any electricity. Even if you’re lucky enough to have enough power to operate a fan, there are many of us who don’t have air conditioning – these tips can help you, too.

Here’s what you need to know.

Drink Lots of Water

The most important thing you can do in the summer, regardless of whether you have power or not, is to drink as much water as possible.

Staying hydrated will not only help you feel better in the moment, but it will help your body work more efficiently, too. When you’re not working overtime to stay cool (your body needs water to sweat, after all), you’ll notice the oppressive heat a little bit less.

Strip Down

You don’t need to run around without clothes – I guess, unless that’s your thing, of course! – but you should try to adjust your attire so that you aren’t wearing stifling, restrictive clothing all day.

Ditch any tight-fitting shirts and jeans, and stick to more breathable fabrics. These should be loose-fitting and ideally, light in color. You could even wander around in your swimsuit if that makes you more comfortable!

Build a Creative DIY Bucket Air Conditioner

You can find instructions on how to build an air conditioner out of a bucket here. It won’t cool down your entire house – and you’ll need either a generator or a solar cell to power it – but it can make all the difference when the thermometer is hovering around 90 degrees F (32 Celsius).

Seal Off the Hottest Rooms

In most cases, there are certain rooms in a home that are always hotter than others (usually, those that have southern exposure to the sun).

Read Also: Money Making Ideas and Products You Can Sell

Block these off to prevent them from heating up the rest of the house. To do this, you can put a towel at the bottom of the door – and make sure you shut the door, too.

Plant Some Trees

This tip isn’t going to help you out much if you’re already sweltering, but if you’re reading this article looking for some preventive measures, planting trees is a great option.

When you plant trees, you’ll provide some shade, both around your house as well as to the space inside your home.

Remember That Heat Rises

Heat rises, so sleep downstairs if you can. You may even want to move a cot to the basement if it’s really that unbearable! Try to plan out your day so that you don’t need to spend time upstairs, either.

Attach a Wet Bandana to Your Head

You can tie a wet bandana to your neck or head, which will keep you feeling cool and refreshed at all times. Wetting your hair can produce the same effect.
Get Some Battery Powered Fans

Your best bet is to stock up on a few battery-powered fans before you lose power. That way, you won’t be scrambling to buy these handy devices at the same time everyone else is.

Trust me – you won’t regret having a few of these contraptions on hand (on a side note, they’re also great for camping).

Open Up the Doors and Windows

Make sure you take advantage of any breeze there might be by opening up the doors and windows.

This isn’t a step you’ll want to bother with if it’s cooler inside than out, though, or if there isn’t any breeze. In most cases, opening your windows up at night can help keep things cool.

Sleep Outside

If the house stays hot even after it’s cooled down outside, consider sleeping outside instead. Outdoor sleeping not an option? Sleep between two open windows and hang some damp sheets over one. As the water evaporates, it will cool you down.

About Author

megaincome

MegaIncomeStream is a global resource for Business Owners, Marketers, Bloggers, Investors, Personal Finance Experts, Entrepreneurs, Financial and Tax Pundits, available online. egaIncomeStream has attracted millions of visits since 2012 when it started publishing its resources online through their seasoned editorial team. The Megaincomestream is arguably a potential Pulitzer Prize-winning source of breaking news, videos, features, and information, as well as a highly engaged global community for updates and niche conversation. The platform has diverse visitors, ranging from, bloggers, webmasters, students and internet marketers to web designers, entrepreneur and search engine experts.