KSU HEALTH SPECIALIST GIVES COOLING REMEDIES FOR A HOT SUMMER

Kansas State University health extension specialist Michael H. Bradshaw offers these suggestions for keeping cool when its hot.

* Drink Water-Drink Water-Drink Water. It is very important that you drink lots of fluid, especially if you are forced to be out in the sun and perspire a lot. Water is by far the best liquid you can use. Fruit juices and iced tea are good also. If you are going on a trip, be sure to carry some drinking water with you in a nonbreakable container. Cars break down easier in hot weather and if you get stranded a cool drink of water will help.

* Put the Alcohol Away Until Cooler Weather. A cold can of beer may sound good, but too much beer or other alcoholic drinks on a hot day can double the risks you face from the heat. Alcohol speeds up dehydration, the one thing you must avoid.

* Be a Good Neighbor. Check on your neighbors several times during the day. This is especially important if they are older, in poor health and live alone. Because one of the early symptoms of heat stroke is loss of consciousness, they may not be able to seek help and early treatment is the only way they can be saved from death. You may be the only help they have.

* Use Your Basement During the Hottest Hours. If you don't have air conditioning but have a basement, set up housekeeping there for the duration. Basements are usually 10-15 degrees cooler than the upstairs part of your house.

* Use Your Circulating Fan. Even if you have air conditioning, a fan which keeps the air moving will let you push up the thermostat several degrees and still be comfortable. It costs less to run a fan than it does the air conditioner.

* Eat Light Meals. You may want to eat more frequently and to avoid using your stove more than necessary; eat foods like salads and fresh fruits which do not need to be cooked. If you have no health problems such as heart or kidney trouble or high blood pressure, use salt a bit more liberally than you would otherwise.

* Be An Advocate. If you know someone who doesn't have a fan or an air conditioner, offer to help them.

* Ask for Help. If you don't have a fan and your home or apartment is hot, don't be afraid to ask for help. Your local health department, your church, your newspaper, your senior citizen center, your hospital or the Red Cross are suggestions where you might go for help.

* Take It Easy. Don't do anything now which can wait until the weather cools.

* Take Extra Care of Young Babies. Like older people, young babies have more trouble adjusting to the heat. If you have questions about how to care for your baby, call your doctor or the nurse at your local health department.

* Stay in the Shade. If you must work or be outdoors, stay in the shade as much as possible. Rig up a make-shift sunshade if you can, and do your work in the early morning or late evening hours when the rays of the sun are less intense. This applies to joggers as well.

* Wear Light-weight and Light Colored Cotton Clothing. Cotton absorbs perspiration and its evaporation causes you to feel cooler. Bare skin or synthetic fabrics do not have this affect.

* Be Extra Considerate of Others. Extreme heat which continues over a long period of time can create a great deal of stress. Give those you live and work with a break by trying to be more understanding.

 

July 1995