We love Minnesota summers. But hot weather brings health risks. Heat exhaustion or heat stroke can happen during extreme heat, when your body’s temperature rises faster than it can cool itself down. This can damage the brain and other vital organs.
Heat can affect anyone, but some people are at greater risk: infants and young kids, people over 65, people with heart disease or high blood pressure, those who are overweight, those who overexert during work or exercise.
Prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke:
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothes
- Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible
- Limit outdoor activity to cooler morning and evening hours
- Pace yourself, and rest often
- Wear sunscreen – sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down, and can make you dehydrated
- Avoid hot and heavy meals – they add heat to your body
- Drink more fluids, no matter how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink
- Replace salt and minerals that you sweat out
Use a Buddy System: Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. Keep an eye on each other when working outside. Check on folks 65+ or with other risk factors twice a day during a heat wave.