July 1999 Tips for Beating the Heat Summer time always brings sweltering heat, but we never seem to be fully prepared. Below are a few tips to keep you cool and healthy when outside of your home. |
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Always drink plenty of water.
Your body needs water to cool itself. Sweat is produced by our bodies to help maintain
proper body temperature. It cannot do so without enough water. Experts recommend 6-8 ounce
glasses per day. Drinking plenty of water is key to overall proper health. (Don't forget
to water your pets too!) |
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Wear that T-shirt! Farmers
used to wear T-shirts under their outer garments in order to "keep cool". As you
sweat, the T-shirt can act as an insulator. (There's no real medical advice here, just a
little southern advice.) |
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Hats. Hats keep the sun off the
head and neck, but it can also keep heat from escaping from your body. If you decide to
wear a hat, be sure and wear one with plenty of ventilation holes. |
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Sunglasses are cool. Sunglasses
not only look cool; they protect your eyes in two important ways. First, they guard
against harmful UV rays. Secondly, if you are doing work outside (i.e. mowing), sunglasses
can protect your eyes from flying objects. It's important to purchase the right type of
lens, so see your local optometrist for more information. |
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Cooling vest. There are vest
made to reduce body heat. This is important for people with Multiple Sclerosis and other
diseases where overheating can cause problems. The vest is similar in appearance to
fishing vest, but they contain several small reusable-cooling packets to help cool the
upper torso region of the body. |
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Mist your body to help keep cool.
This acts like sweat and will also make you feel cooler in the process. Your local
discount store should carry these items in the summer. |
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Best Advice: Stay out of the heat and enjoy the great indoors! |