Five Ways to Avoid Heat Illness
With some areas of Kansas and Missouri experiencing triple-digit temperatures and more 100°F days forecasted for the summer, heat illness is a major concern this summer. While everyone expects hotter weather in the summer, the current heat wave has caught some people by surprise.
Being unprepared for extreme heat can lead to a wide variety of ailments, some of which can cause catastrophic injuries. To help you and your family avoid heat-related illnesses, the personal injury lawyers at Patterson Legal Group offer the following safety tips.
What Is Heat Illness?
Before we get to our tips to avoid heat-related illness, it’s important to understand how they’re caused. Heat illness is a broad classification of sickness often caused by hot temperatures. In most cases, extreme temperatures and other conditions interfere with the body’s ability to regulate temperature. This can lead to unsafe body temperatures which can lead to injuries as minor as muscle cramps to, in extreme cases, wrongful death.
Examples of heat-related illnesses include:
- Heat Cramps
- Heat Syncope
- Heat Exhaustion
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Heat Stroke
Five Ways to Prevent Heat-Related Illness
While the effects of heat sickness can be devastating, the good news is that heat illnesses are highly preventable. With hotter-than-normal temperatures expected throughout the summer, Patterson Legal Group urges you to follow the safety tips below. Doing so can make the difference between staying safe and suffering from a debilitating sickness. To make sure that you stay cool this summer, be sure to:
1) Always Be Hydrating: your body loses water faster when it’s hotter, since water is required to produce sweat, which helps regulate your body temperature. If you’re dehydrated then your ability to produce sweat is compromised and you’re more susceptible to heat illness. This is why it’s so important to drink water throughout the day during the summer. Water or a diluted sports drink is best, while highly caffeinated or alcoholic beverages can further dehydrate your body.
2) Limit Outdoor Activities During Peak Heat Hours: peak heat hours in Kansas and Missouri typically start around noon and reach their apex around 3:00 p.m. If you enjoy outdoor activities then try to plan them around those hours. Outdoor summer exercise is considerably safer in the early morning or evening.
3) Wear Appropriate Clothing: wearing clothes that are designed to be breathable and moisture-wicking is essential during the summer months. They will help keep your body cool and your temperature low. If you’re a heavy sweater then consider synthetic fabrics that are designed to wick sweat away, such as certain types of micromodal, nylon, and polyester.
4) Listen to Your Body: if you start sweating profusely or feel your leg muscles tightening up then take a break, find some shade or an air-conditioned room, and enjoy a cold beverage. Your body is telling you to take it easy for a bit and you need to listen to those signals. Listening to your body can help keep you healthy and avoid heat-related illnesses.
5) Always Check the Weather: weather patterns can be unpredictable and fluctuate wildly. This is why it’s so important to check the weather, especially during the summer. Check the National Weather Service (NWS) for your town’s conditions and plan accordingly. If you’re setting out on a road trip then check the weather conditions for your destination as well.
Related topic: Summer Car Preparation Tips to Stay Safe in the Heat
Contact Patterson Legal Group
The legal professionals at Patterson Legal Group hope that you and your family follow these safety tips above to avoid heat illness. Unfortunately, some heat illnesses can be caused by negligent business or property owners. If you’ve suffered heat sickness and you believed it was caused by the actions or inactions of another party then contact us for a free consultation to explore your legal options.
The trial attorneys at Patterson Legal Group have been representing injury victims in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma for more than 25 years. You can reach our team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone at (888) 687-2400 and online through LiveChat or encrypted contact form.
In addition to a long track record of winning fantastic settlements for our clients, we work on a “no win, no fee” basis, so you don’t pay a dime unless money has been recovered on your behalf. For an unbeatable combination of superior legal representation and extraordinary customer service, call Patterson Legal Group today.
