HEAT: The American Red Cross sent us some tips for folks to keep cool in the hot summer months.
The first, of course, is to stay hydrated. Drinking enough water is one of the most important things you can do to prevent heat-related illness.
An average person needs to drink about three-quarters of a gallon of fluid daily. Stay away from sugary, caffeinated, and alcoholic drinks.
•Keep your home cool. Cover the windows with drapes or shades, use window reflectors to reflect the heat back outside, and install a window air conditioner if you can.
•Plan to go to a cool place. Spending a few hours each day in air conditioning can help prevent or reduce heat-related illness. If you do not have air conditioning in your home, identify a place where you can spend the warmest part of the day during an extreme heat event.
• Stay cool. Stay in an air conditioned place as much as possible. Wear appropriate clothing that is light-weight, light colored and loose fitting.
• 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 air conditioned place to cool off.
