Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness

Stay Cool

• Wear appropriate clothing: choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• Stay cool indoors: stay in an airconditioned place as much as possible.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully: try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours.
• Pace yourself: if you’re not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually.
• Wear sunscreen: sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated.

Stay Hydrated

• Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
• Stay away from very sugary or alcoholic drinks—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid and become dehydrated sooner.
• Replace salt and minerals: heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced.

Stay Informed

• Check for updates: Check your local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips and to learn about any cooling shelters in your area.
• Use a buddy system: when working in the heat, be sure to have someone with you at all times.

Source: cdc.gov