Tips to Beat the Heat This Summer
- admin
- blog
- Tags: chicago, Chicago summer, safety tips, summer, tips
- no comments
Chicago has been experiencing extreme heat this summer. According to the Chicago Tribune, this summer’s heat has already set Chicago weather records as June’s temperature average tied for the sixth hottest on record. The city has taken measures to help Chicagoans cool down such as opening cooling centers, stationing air-conditioned CTA buses at Chicago Public Schools, turning on water features at parks, and opening more than 75 public libraries and 30 park district buildings to the public. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable, but more than 600 people die from extreme heat annually. Therefore, all of us at Strellis and Field have compiled some tips to keep you and your loved ones cool and safe this summer!
The main things that can inhibit your body from naturally cooling down during hot temperatures include personal factors and humidity. Personal factors such as your age, weight, dehydration, sunburn, poor circulation, heart disease, mental illness, and prescription drug and alcohol use can play a huge factor in your body’s ability to cool down. High humidity (which Chicago is known for) can also prevent your sweat from evaporating quickly which can keep your body from releasing heat as rapidly as it should.
According to the CDC, the best way to prevent heat illnesses is to limit your outdoor exposure when it is a hot day, especially during the hottest parts of the day (11 a.m.- 3 p.m.). Other tips to prevent heat-related illness include:
- Drink an abundance of fluids, even if you are not thirsty
- Drink sports drinks to replace salt lost from sweating
- Wear sunscreen as sunburns can prevent the body from properly cooling down
- Wear loose and lightweight clothing and hats
- Take time to rest and cool off in air conditioning
- Take cool showers or baths to cool down
- NEVER leave children or pets in vehicles
- Schedule outdoor activities for early in the morning or evening to avoid the hottest times of the day
- Pace yourself if you exercise outdoors
- Do not use the oven or stove to cook as it will make you and your house hotter
- Check-in on friends and neighbors and have them do the same for you
We hope these tips help you beat the heat and keep your cool during these hot Chicago summers. Check out some of our other Strellis and Field blog posts for more information and tips!
