Tips to keep you and your pet cool on hot summer days

The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Va.

1. Stay Hydrated: The rate at which the human body can absorb fluids is less than the rate it loses during extreme temperatures. Drinking beverages that contain sugar, caffeine or alcohol will only further dehydrate the human body. Drink water regularly, even before you are thirsty, as thirst indicates dehydration.

2. Keep cool: If you don’t have AC at home, keep rooms as ventilated as possible. Consider going to a public pool, shopping mall or other air conditioned building. Even a few hours in air conditioning can help you stay cool before you go back in the heat. Wear cool, loose, light- weight clothing to stay as cool as possible.

3. Limit Outdoor Activities: Try to limit outdoor activity to early morning or evening hours and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest hours of the day.

4. Avoid Harmful UV’s: If it’s not possible to stay out of the sun, avoid harmful rays by wearing wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher.

5. Never Leave Someone or a Pet in a Closed Vehicle: The temperature inside a closed vehicle can exceed 140 degrees within 30 minutes. Despite this clear and present danger, injuries and deaths among children, seniors, and pets occur every year.

6. Check on elderly loved ones and those with special needs: Extreme heat without AC can be especially dangerous for elderly and those with health issues, who are more affected by the heat.

7. Pets: If pets need to stay outside, give them plenty of shade and water. Consider a small pool for the animal to stay cool.

Source: AlertID

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