Summer is still going strong and so is our 101 Days of Summer Safety initiative. From now until Labor Day, we want to hear how you’re beating the heat.
Heat-related illness is preventable but often affects children, older adults, people with disabilities and outside workers. Here are a few tips to keep you safe during extreme heat this summer:
- Hydration is Key. Stay hydrated with water and avoid sugary beverages.
- Wear Appropriate Clothing. Choose lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
- Don’t Leave Kids or Anyone Else in Cars. Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children and pets are especially at risk of getting a heat stroke or dying.
- Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully. Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.
- Know when to stop activity. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.
- Wear Sunscreen. Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. When you’re outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before going out and reapplying according to the package directions.
Show us how you’re staying safe this summer for a chance to win prizes like a 40 oz. insulated water bottle, hydration pack or Bluetooth speaker! Just fill out the form below and upload your summer safety photo by Labor Day (September 2). Fifteen winners will be chosen and announced right here on Blue Nation Online on September 4.