Hot Fun in the Summertime!

I certainly love Michigan’s whole three months of summer - June, July and August - where we can count on warm weather almost every day and aim for fun in the sun. In fact, I’m always wishing for more summer weather than we usually get. It’s nice not to wear a coat or boots and have the glorious opportunity to get out our summer clothes.

This year we’ve already gotten our share of the hot, sticky days of summer for more than the usual amount. These days seem to have continued in a cooling down, then extreme heat kind of pattern for 2018. The “dog days” of summer have hit us earlier than usual. With the intense heat we’ve been experiencing, it’s important to remember how to take care of ourselves and our families. Too much heat can make us sick if we’re not careful. 

As we sweat in the warm weather, our body naturally cools itself as the sweat evaporates. When the weather is extreme, it’s difficult for the sweat to evaporate very well. This can cause our bodies to get too hot. 

There are four different types of heat-related illnesses:

• Sunburn – red, painful and warm skin. Sunburn can damage the skin and cause a loss of fluids.
• Heat cramps – muscle spasms are from the loss of salt and fluids from our body. This can also be one of the signs of heat exhaustion. Rest right away and hydrate with water or electrolyte sports beverages, but not anything with caffeine or alcohol.
• Heat exhaustion – can be a milder form of heat-related illness. This can develop after a few days of being in the high temperatures without drinking enough fluids. 
• Heat stroke – this is the most severe and occurs when the body temperature rises quickly to over 103 degrees and our body fails to cool itself. Symptoms can include hot/dry skin, headache, dizziness, fast pulse, confusion and unconsciousness. This is a medical emergency, so call 911 or get the person to the hospital immediately.

Some people may be at greater risk for high temperature illness. These include:

• Babies and children
• Older adults
• People who have chronic illness such as respiratory conditions, diabetes and heart disease
• People who overexert themselves
• People who are overweight 

Ways to stay healthy when it’s hot include:

• Drinking lots of fluids
• Avoid exercising and being outside during the hottest time of the day
• If you must be outside, make sure to take breaks and sit in the shade
• Wear loose, light-weight, light-colored clothing
• Stay as cool as possible. Use an air conditioner, take a cool bath or shower, use cool wet cloths, hang out in the basement or at the mall.
• Our pets need to be taken care of, too. Make sure they’re not in the sun too much and always have cool water to drink. Don’t let them stay outside during the extreme days.
• NEVER, EVER leave a child or pet in a parked car even with the windows cracked for a short period of time. Cars get hot quickly and we’ve all heard the horrific stories. 

When we hear yet again that the weather might be extreme for the next couple of days, remember that hot fun in the summertime will only happen during our brief three months in Michigan. Embrace 2018 for all its worth. It will be September soon.