- Reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day. Children, seniors and anyone with health problems should stay in the coolest available place.
- Dress for summer. Wear lightweight, loose fitting, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight.
- Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads. If you pack food, put it in a cooler or carry an ice pack. Don't leave it sitting in the sun. Meats and dairy products can spoil quickly in hot weather.
- Drink plenty of water, non-alcoholic and decaffeinated fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty. Those on a fluid restrictive diet or who have issues with fluid retention should consult a doctor before drinking more fluids.
- Use air conditioners or spend time in air-conditioned locations.
- Use portable electric fans to exhaust hot air from rooms or to draw in cooler air.
- Do not point the flow of portable electric fans toward yourself when room temperature is hotter than 90 degrees. The dry blowing air will dehydrate you faster and endanger your health.
- Minimize direct exposure to the sun. Sunburn reduces your body's ability to dissipate heat.
- Take a cool bath or shower.
- Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.
- Check on older, sick or frail people who may need help responding to the heat. Each year, dozens of children and untold numbers of pets left in parked vehicles die from hyperthermia. Keep your children, disabled adults and pets safe during tumultuous heat waves.
- Don't leave valuable electronic equipment, such as cellphones and GPS units, sitting in hot cars.
- Make sure rooms are well vented if you are using volatile chemicals.
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