Aside from the obvious discomfort that may be caused by the heat, other more serious issues can be a result of the excessive heat we have been experiencing in the central valley this year. According to WebMD, “Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat illness that can happen after a person is exposed to high temperatures without drinking enough water. Heatstroke occurs when the body’s internal temperature reaches 104 F.”
Here are a few safety precautions and actions you can take to avoid these illnesses:
Avoid drinks with high caffeine content and drink cool fluids like sports drinks, and of course, (like Jocelyn and Jack recommend) drink lots of water.
Take a break from your busy college schedule and rest in a cool place or stop by the Reedley College RWC to get some help on that writing assignment you have been meaning to get started on.
Take cold showers or place an ice pack on your “pulse points like your wrists, ankles, the crooks of your elbows, and the backs of your knees.” If you are on campus and in between classes and can’t do either, find a sink and do like Brighten recommends and splash your face with some cool water.
As we settle back into the hustle and bustle of this Fall semester, mother nature does not take our academic activities into consideration. The Forecasts are predicting temperatures to stay well in the 90s the first week of September and it doesn’t seem to get cooler anytime soon. Whether you are back on campus or joining us virtually this semester, it is critical that we keep our body temperature down especially while the temperature outside goes up.
Tips & Tricks from students on how to stay cool when the temperature keeps rising
"Wear a hat and use some sunscreen; splash water on your face throughout the day; put your hair up in a ponytail; wear low-ankle socks and shorts; buy a small USB fan to cool you off when you're not home." -Brighten Tompkins
"Drink water; stay under the shade; if you are wearing a mask, take it off for a bit when you are outside." -Jocelyn Ruvalcaba
"Stay in your car with the windows down; drink lots of water; wear a hat." -Jack DiGiacamo
To learn more about the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion or heatstroke visit www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20210715/avoid-heat-illness-amid-us-heatwave-tips
Works Cited
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/ss/slideshow-cool-down-when-hot
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20210715/avoid-heat-illness-amid-us-heatwave-tips