By ASHLEY FOWLER
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Friday is the first day of summer and Mother Nature is ready to crank up the heat. With 90-degree temps and triple-digit heat indices moving in for the long haul, the American Red Cross has some advice on how Hoosiers can keep cool and stay safe.
‘Now that’s what I call high quality H2O!’
To stay hydrated, the Red Cross recommends drinking a cup (eight ounces) of water every hour, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Other tips include:
- Drink before, during, and after activity, especially after physical activity.
- Avoid sugary, caffeinated, and alcoholic drinks.
- Eat hydrating foods like watermelon, cucumber, and celery.
- Carry a reusable water bottle and refill it regularly.
- Know the signs of dehydration: dry mouth, dizziness, headache, and fatigue.
Pets need water, too! Remember to bring your pets indoors and make sure they have access to plenty of cool, clean water.
Stay cool
High temperatures will hit the 90-degree mark today and stay there well into next week. To stay cool, try some (or all) of the following:
- Keep children and pets indoors. Never leave kids or pets in a hot vehicle!
- Take cool showers/baths and wet your skin using a damp cloth.
- Stay out of the heat, especially during the midday and afternoon hours.
- Spend time in air-conditioned places like malls, libraries, and cooling centers.
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothes in light colors. Don’t forget the hat and sunglasses!
Regularly check in with friends and loved ones who are over 65 years old and those with heart, lung, or kidney conditions, a disability, and living alone.
Keep it chill
During a heatwave, you should try to keep your home as cool as possible. Here are some tips and tricks from the World Health Organization:
- During the day, close windows and cover them with blinds or curtains to block sunlight.
- Use the night air to cool down your home by opening windows after dark.
- Move to the coolest room in the home, especially at night.
- If you have air conditioning, keep windows and doors shut.
Know the signs
During extremely hot weather, it’s harder for your body to keep itself cool. When the body heats up too rapidly, or when too much fluid or salt is lost through sweating or dehydration, body temperatures rise and you can experience a heat-related illness.
Heat cramps may be the first sign of heat-related illness and may lead to heat exhaustion or stroke. Symptoms include painful muscle cramps/spasms in the legs and abdomen and heavy sweating. If cramps last longer than one hour, get medical help right away.
Heat exhaustion is more severe and may lead to heat stroke, which can cause death or permanent disability.
This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/indiana-news/heat-safety-tips-summer.