Hot Times in the City
Posted: July 1, 2012 by Chuck DeShazo
I am a life long resident of Texas and enjoy the warm weather months. At the same time, July and August can be downright unbearable, particularly last summer. While this summer will not be quite as bad, it will still be seriously hot on a number of days, and for all of us to enjoy it and survive into the fall, we must remember some common sense guidelines. I have compiled the following list of 29 items from personal thoughts as well as sites such as e-how.com, womeninfitness.net, mydestination.com and yourbenefitmanager.com.
Enjoy your summer and if you have any additions for the list, let me know!
Ways to Survive Heat
1. Drink plenty of water
2. Suck on plenty of ice
3. Wear loose fitting clothing
4. Eat at outdoor restaurants with misters and fans, awnings, and umbrellas
5. Don’t over-eat
6. Do heavy outdoor work in the early morning
7. Be aware that heat can even exist well after the sun has gone down
8. A good way for men to stay cool is to wear a guayabera. They shirts are sometimes called Mexican wedding shirts or bowling shirts. These shirts are actually made to keep you cool and are to be worn untucked.
9. Stay away from soda
10.Another way to stay cool is to cool your pulse points on your body. What this means is running some cold water for a couple of minutes on your wrist and then maybe putting some cold water on your face and temple area.
11. In hot weather it's not unusual for people to have a hard time sleeping. Fill up a water bottle with ice water. Use it to cool your ankles and the back of your knees. Keeping your head cool will keep your entire body cool.
12. Opt for a cool and absorbent pillow of organic cotton it at all possible.
13. Put your sheets in the freezer for an hour or two before bed.
14. Don't wear your shoes or hat while indoors. Much of the body's heat is released through the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, and the scalp. Keeping these areas cool makes a surprising difference. Ref: E-how
15. Wear Light Colors: Darker colors will absorb the sun's rays and be warmer.
16. Keep the air flowing in your house. Use fans to circulate the air conditioning.
17. Put heavy shades on the windows to block the sun which can heat up the house.
18. Eat light meals with less protein to reduce your metabolic heat.
19. Snack on frozen treats. Eat frozen grapes or berries, popsicles and ice cream
20. Protective hats (Wide-brimmed) keep the sun out of your eyes and provide some cooling shade.
21.Use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say "broad spectrum" or "UVA/UVB protection" on their labels). You can get painful sunburn even on a cloudy day, so slather on the sunscreen every morning before you start out. Don't forget lips, ears, back of neck.
22.When working outside, take periodic rest breaks in a cool area. So relax, slow down, pace yourself.
23.Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which are diuretics -- substances that increase water loss via the urine.
24.If you are taking medication, ask your doctor about its side-effects. Be extra cautious in the sun/heat if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other medical conditions. Also be extra careful if you are taking any medications. For instance, certain medications (like some antibiotics, NSAIDS [such as ibuprofen and aspirin], and some oral contraceptives), may make you sunburn more easily, so be sure to protect yourself and stay out of the sun as much as possible.
25. Get plenty of sleep
26. Eat foods high in water content, like fruits & vegetables.
27. Be aware that when active in a hot, dry climate -- for example when playing tennis --both salt and water are lost in sweat. Under such conditions restriction of dietary salt by healthy individuals may be unwise. However, salt tablets are rarely necessary.
28. Spend time in an air conditioned mall or movie theater
29. The human body has ways of telling us when it cannot go on any further. If you feel tired, sick or have a lack of energy pay attention to those warning bells. Instead of being in the midday sun, lie down in a cool air conditioned room. Don’t partake in any strenuous activities and ensure that you are wearing light and loose clothing that does not attract the heat of the sun. It is a well-known fact that wearing black can be disastrous in the heat of summer.
Places to Go In Dallas-Fort Worth to escape the summer heat
1. Dallas Museum of Art Thursday Nights
2. NorthPark Center
3. The Dallas Galleria
4. Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
5. The Dallas Aquarium
6. Sealife Aquarium Grapevine
