Hot Weather Resources

TIPS TO STAY COOL

Here are a few tips on ways to stay safe and cool this summer:

• Drink plenty of fluids: Drink 2-4 glasses of cool fluids each hour.
• Do not drink caffeinated or alcoholic beverages because they dehydrate the body.
• Keep cool indoors: If you can, stay in an air-conditioned area. Resting for just two hours in air conditioning can significantly reduce heat-related illnesses.
• Plan outdoor activities around the heat: If you must go outside, go before noon or at night when it's cooler. Avoid strenuous physical activities or reschedule them for the coolest part of the day, usually the early morning.
• Give your body a break: Heat is stressful on your body. Limit physical activity until your body adjusts to the heat.
• Eat light meals, avoiding high-protein foods because they increase metabolic heat.
• Don’t take salt tablets unless directed by a doctor.
• Wear light-colored clothing, which helps reflect sunlight.
• Wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Sunburn makes it more difficult for your body to cool off.
• Never leave children or pets unattended in a car—not even for a few minutes. Even with the windows slightly open, the temperature in a car on a 93-degree day can soar to 125 degrees in just 20 minutes and approximately 140 degrees in 40 minutes.

SOURCES: Fairfaxcounty.gov.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES