Surviving High Temperatures and Sun

k_estela

k_estela

Co-Moderator, Wilderness and Survival Skills Forum
Moderator
Joined
Feb 23, 2001
Messages
2,101
Here in New England, we are in the middle of a heat wave. In the school system where I teach, we have had early releases both yesterday and today. While high heat can be dangerous, in particular to the young and to the elderly, it is not cause for as much worry as the media would like it to be. I never was released early because of heat and I hate the fact society is making us fear nature. There are ways to tolerate it and while they may not be as pleasant as unnatural air conditioning, they work and make you tougher in the long run.

Here is a thread to start discussion on ways to cope with the heat.

1. Run cold water over your wrists and over your ankles. Your blood is close to the skin running through your veins just below the surface here. It will help make you feel cooler.

2. Wear light colored clothing and use sun screen even if in the shade. There are many "girly" sunblocks out there that don't have an oily feel and actually don't feel like anything once they dry. A sunburn can easily crush your spirits and put a dampener in your day.

3. Dare I say avoid caffeine? I love coffee as much as the next person but it will make you sweat out precious fluids. Up your daily intake of water if you still wish to drink that java juice.

4. Seek shade. Shade is always cooler than direct sunlight and will allow you to enure high temps.

5. Cotton kills but not in high heat. What might kill you in the winter for it's poor drying ability will feel cool and refreshing in the sun.

What else am I missing? These are the first that come to mind for me so post your ideas here and let's spread some knowledge around!!!
 
Hat and sunglasses will really reduce the beating on your head and eyes from the sun.
 
cool wet rag /bandana around your neck cooling blood to & from your head... Excellent topic, it is hot and humid here in Texas
 
No matter the day of the year I always have Sunglasses on me, having blue eyes and all...bright sunlight or reflecting light reeks havoc on my eyes...
 
Great ideas so far guys. Also, let's not forget our 4 legged friends. Any tips to help them endure the heat with us?
 
kev, i am with in you the dissapointment at society at fearing the heat to this degree. i also got out of school early yesterday and today, and while i don't mind the extra free time, it really makes me sad how much peole feed on the media...everyone is complaining about the heat just because there is all this fuss about it...but it really isn't that hot, we get this kind of heat every year...

i agree on keeping a wet cloth on your neck. keep your feet cool. take cook showers, go swimming (wear sunscreen!), stay wet whenever possible. get a few fans moving, having the air move around helps alot, especially when you are wet.

stay cool out there guys, and remember not to put too much stock in what the news folks say...there is no reason to panic.
 
Monitor your activity level and reduce it as much as possible to avoid moisture and salt loss via sweat and or breathing too heavily. When you breath out, you exhale precious moisture, so stay calm and even in your breathing, and don't huff and puff. Of course, don't hold your breath either!

Exertion should be kept to the bare necessary minimum.
 
I am amazed at how wimpy the North East is...I am from here after all, but I guess all those years in Texas toughened me up or something...the guys at work are about ready to die in this stuff. Everyonce in a while I go over to the waterjug and take a drink, and I pace myself...not to tuff. A hat and loose clothes work for me..If I start to get really hot, I put on a loose thin button down short sleeve shirt over my t-shirt! this locks in the sweat.
 
If its realy hot and you are hiking dont wait untill you feel over heated.. Find some shade and wait till you cool off. More important is for your pup find some shade and wait untill he stops panting very hard.. Give him lots of water to drink.. If you carry extra water( which you should) pour some water on his head and neck... Pre mix some Gatoraid powder with water but use only 1\3 of what it says on the box. As was said before a hat with a large brim and sun glasses. Long sleeve cottom shirt and pants. Try white or blue color. Heat stroke Hits fast and hard..If you see your pup looking for shade it means you should too..

Sasha
 
Man, don't you guys have A/C?

I went to school in CT and we had A/C units. If it was extremely hot, the only concession made was gym class stayed inside.

The wet bandana around the neck is good, even better on the head if you're like me and wear the hair high and tight, or balded.
LONG SLEEVE white cotton shirts. People like to yell cotton kills, but in the blazing summer it's the thing to have. Long sleeves because the direct sunlight on those shallow blood vessels heats you up faster and the skin can/will get severely dried and burnt in the sun. Wear white or khaki (not "coyote") to reflect the sun.
Drink a lot. I force myself to drink a liter an hour whether I feel thirsty or not. On real active days, I still pee orange drinking that much.
Before any prolonged outdoor activity load up on a liter of Gatoraid, or mix one of the better electrolyte solutions available. If you're to be out more than a few hours, bring another packet of electrolyte solution to mix up. I think the worst thing people do in the heat is let themselves dehydrate. DO NOT drink caffeine or alcohol!

ETA: if I'm out with the mutt, I'll carrry along a "sports bottle" -- the kind with the nipple for riding bikes. When the dog gets overheated, I SLOWLY squeeze water into his mouth and he drinks it right up.
Good point from the others on exertion level. Don't overdo it on a hot day. Use this time to take it slow and enjoy nature, rather than worry about your mileage.
 
forgot to reinforce the sunglasses suggestion before...

though not necessary, a good pair of sunglasses makes you alot less miserable and able in the bright sun.
 
I like to use bandanas. Get them soaking wet, put around neck and stuff into a "tilly style" hat. It helps a lot. Even better, I wrap ice cubes inside 2 bandanas, one goes on the neck, the other in the hat. You will have a constant trickle, but boy, does it feel good!
 
I too and dissapointed in the lack of dealing with the weather. I was listening the the news and they were listing all this different places that have "cooling stations." I don't have central air and I do just fine. I hang out in my basement a lot which is cooler or I turn on the shower as cool as it can go and just hop in for a few minutes (if only I had a pool instead:( )We have hot days every summer, you think people would be used to it by now.
 
Ok...I hike down here in TX alot and a couple of things that most people disregard are very important.

1. DO NOT pour very cold water on yourself once you get really hot. Use lukewarm water.

2. DO NOT drink iced water or other cold beverages when hot.

3. Also, I don't know if it's just me, but Powerade, etc always makes me puke when I drink it while I'm too hot.
 
Stay away from areas of high radiant heat. Rock, pavement and such. Ground temperatures can be much higher than the ambient temperature. Up to 150 at times.

Breath through your nose to minimize moisture loss.
 
I soak my hat and the front and of back of my shirt, if they aren't already. Drink liberally and carry a supply of salt. I wil often stop and down a half canteen, a salt packet, and some unrefined sugar and it puts me right back on top in about 15 minutes.

Use a high SPF sunscreen. I have real problems in bright sun until I stop and put it on. It makes a big difference to me. Don't forget your lips. You don't learn that lesson until the second day when they start to crack off.

Monitor how much water the other members of your group are drinking! You would be amazed at how often people will go down from dehydration when they are carrying water. I have had people in the bush who, get this, never drink water. Never touch the stuff, if it isn't flavored or out of a can or bottle they act as if it is below them. When those same people are forced by circumstances to drink water from a creek and treated with iodine they just stop drinking until they get in real trouble. You might be just fine but end up dealing with someone elses self induced misery.

Often people suffering from the initial stages of dehydration will try to attribute it to something else, I'm just tired, I didn't sleep well last night, I need to eat something. "How much water did you drink today?" Invariably they say, "Oh I have some," and take a swig. I stand there and watch them drink it. Mac
 
tknife said:
Hat and sunglasses will really reduce the beating on your head and eyes from the sun.
Click to expand...

That is oh so true.

I am a stay at home dad for this summer. I bought a hat because my son and I are roaming about during the midday.
 
Light, loose clothing. I have a couple of long sleeve Patagonia cotton blend fishing shirts that are t he best hot weather shirts I've ever owned. Gotten me through multiple day trips in the desert with flying colors. Lay low during the heat of the day in the coolest spot you can find. And DRINK. So many people forget to hydrate and that's the beginning of all your worst scenarios. If you're spending the night out, take a full water bottle to bed with you and take a drink every time you awake. You'll feel better in the morning and have a better start to your day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top