by Michael Ray

Created on: April 25, 2009

The sweltering heat of summer is upon us and many of us will be grabbing beer and soft drinks and heading for the old oak tree to cool down. It's not a bad idea, and I do it often myself. There are a few do's and don'ts when it comes to staying cool in the summer though. We get hot, we sweat. It's our body's way of telling us we're overheating as it tries to dissipate some of the excess heat. Here are a few simple tips for keeping your cool when the sun is at it's worst.

One of the first thing that comes to mind is STAY INDOORS! Hopefully your house has an air conditioner or ceiling fans. If not keep your doors or windows open to let air circulate.

Acclimate yourself to the heat. If you've been cooped up indoors all winter and you suddenly step out into 90 degree temperature you'll heat up real quick. Start by spending short amounts of time under a covered porch or a tree. As your body begins to get used to the higher temperatures you'll be able to spend longer amounts of time outdoors without over heating.

Let's start with the beer and soft drink, DON'T! Alcohol and caffeine both cause your body to dehydrate. This causes your body to heat up. Your body works like your car's radiator, the less fluid you have in you the hotter the engine gets. Drink water, decaffeinated beverages and sports drinks. Stay under the tree though, getting out of the sun's rays will cool you down and keep you from that sunburn.

It's summer. Lose the hats and shoes if possible. A lot of our body heat escapes through our feet and head. Removing our hats, socks and shoes enables the heat to escape. Remember your grade school science. Lighter colors reflect heat which in turn keeps you cooler. Wearing dark colors in the summer will raise you temperature a few degrees.

A damp towel or rag wrapped around the neck can not only cool you down but keep you cool also. The towel cools your blood which in turns cools down the rest of your body.

The sun's UV rays will heat you up from the inside out. Use a sun blocker when out doors. An SPF of 15 or better will block out the sun's UV rays and keep you cooler.

If you must exercise or work outdoors take frequent breaks. Too much and too fast is what leads to heat stroke. Most of us recognize the warning signs of overheating. DON'T IGNORE THEM. A short 10 minute break to cool down is better than spending 6 hours in the emergency room. As always, the best way to keep cool is by using common sense!

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