It’s one thing to travel to a sunny location and another to visit a place during a heat wave. However, in the last few years, it’s also been true that certain areas seem to be in a perpetual heat wave. With this in mind, these tips are actually going to help anyone who is traveling to a very hot location. The heat is no joke; it’s something you want to be prepared for.
Don’t Travel
This may seem like the weirdest piece of advice, particularly to lead off. Keep in mind that a heat wave is a period of abnormally hot weather. Suppose you’re traveling to a destination that typically gets 90+-degree weather during your travel dates. That’s bad enough, but if there’s a heat wave, you could be looking at temperatures in the 100s. If that’s the case, you may want to reconsider your travel plans because the weather could drastically alter your itinerary. On top of that, medical publications don’t advise that people over the age of 65 or infants travel in such extreme temperatures. That list also includes people with certain pre-existing medical conditions as well.
Take The Right Clothes
Having the right clothes doesn’t necessarily mean short shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt! At times, it’s best to wear clothes that actually protect your body a bit more. You may also benefit from mesh t-shirts, for example, over cotton. Sweat could be an issue, but at least this material won’t contribute as much to increasing your body temperature. That’s one of the real issues that you’d have to contend with.
Food & Drinks
Obviously, getting enough water is a must on this front. If you’re going to be drinking cocktails, it could be a good idea to mix in some water breaks. Wine and other alcoholic beverages can heavily contribute to dehydration. When it comes to food, you want to keep things as fresh and light as you can. It’s also worth noting that seafood doesn’t do too well in hot climates. The last thing that you need in a heat wave is to develop food poisoning. The effects of that disease also contribute heavily to dehydration.
Limit Your Time in the Sun
Another situation that seems very obvious. The less sun you get, the better you’ll be able to regulate your body temperature. This is the second time that body temperature is referenced. The thing is, when it goes up you can be dealing with a bunch of issues that can lead to very nasty circumstances. Back to the time in the sun, though, you want to limit not only your time in the sun but even how much sun your car and your things get. Otherwise, everything is going to be burning up when you try to use it. Getting into a small car with the windows down after it’s been in the sun all day is not fun.
Recognize Heat Stroke Symptoms
A big headache, confusion, dizziness, nausea, seeing your skin turn red. These are all symptoms of a heat stroke. When they start to appear, the first thing you need to do is get out of the sun and find ways to cool down. You can do that with a wet towel, even one of those personal fans. Anything that you can get your hands on to cool you down is a good idea. The first step, though, is to get out of the sun. Get some fluids as well. If the symptoms get really bad, head to the emergency room as soon as possible.
