Watch out for dehydration and overheating
The warm sunny days can lull us into ignoring our body’s messages. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink. When a person realizes he is thirsty, he is already getting dry. Begin drinking water early in the day and continue to drink. (If your doctor has told you to limit fluid intake, follow his instructions.) Drink water as the majority of your fluids; it is the best hydration fluid. If you want caffeine, alcohol or sugared drinks, stop and enjoy them. However, recognize that these drinks can cause your body to lose more fluids. In addition to proper hydration, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also recommends you fuel your body by eating healthy foods while working outside.
Be aware that working during a warm, sunny day can cause a person to overheat. Stop and take breaks often to cool off in the shade or go into the air conditioning. Be aware of symptoms of overheating (heat exhaustion) such as excessive thirst, weakness, headache, dizziness, high body temperature, nausea, confusion and loss of consciousness, frequent muscle cramps, rapid pulse, fainting, fatigue, profuse sweating.
Heat Exhaustion is a potential life-threatening situation because it can progress to heat stroke (when the body exhausts its ability to sweat and cool itself and begins to overheat). According to WebMD, anyone suffering from heat exhaustion should get out of the sun and into a cool environment to rest. The person should do these things for 30 minutes: drink plenty of non-caffeinated, non-alcohol beverages, remove tight clothing, take a cool shower, rest in front of a fan or apply cold iced towels to cool off. If the person isn’t recovering within 30 minutes, medical assistance must be obtained. More information about heat exhaustion can be found at http://firstaid.webmd.com/heat-exhaustion
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