Beat The Heat This Summer

Introduction

Beat the heat helping you keep your cool in the hot weather. Goodbye to myths and misconceptions, hello to real refreshing solutions.

Sunburn

Here’s how to handle signs of sunburn…

Remove: Get out of the sun straight away.

Refrigerate: Apply a cold flannel or take a cool shower. 

Hydrate: Drink lots of water

Medicate: Use gels, creams, or tablets to soothe skin.

Cover: Cover up the sunburned skin before going outside again. 

Sun Cream

Sun cream gets less effective the older it is, so chuck it after the expiry date. And make sure it stops both UVA and UVB rays. Finally, the SPF tells you how much sun it blocks. Go for 3050 plus, or risk skin damage.

Once you’ve got a good sun cream e.g. (Eucerin 50+), use about two tablespoons to cover your whole bold. Re-apply every two hours. And don’t be fooled by the weather 80% of the sun’s UV rays can come through clouds.

Windows Open

Open windows let cold air in, right? But what if the air outside is hotter? On days like this, close windows and curtains to keep the heat out. Then open them at night to cool things down.

Blankets Over Prams

We need to keep our little ones cool too but putting a blanket over a pram or stroller isn’t the way to do it. It can get hot under there, and children get dehydrated fast. Use a parasol over the pram instead and give them plenty of fluids too.

Dogs in hot cars.  

And what about our furry friends? Can you leave them in the car, in the shade with the windows open? The answer is NO. Even with these precautions, cars can get dangerously hot. 

Cooling yourself down

Whew, you’re really burning up. To cool your whole body down quickly, focus on cooling your pulse points first. Apply cold flannels or ice packs to your neck, elbows, wrists and ankles. 

Staying hydrated

It’s midday, the sun’s at its hottest between now and 4pm, so you might want to limit your time outside. When it’s hot, our bodies lose water faster than normal. So, staying hydrated is crucial. Scanning your kitchen for solutions… 

The NHS recommends that we drink two to four litres of water every day, as well as 1 litre for every hour of exercise. 

Whether it’s watermelon slices or a leafy salad for lunch, lots of fruits and vegetables are packed with water to keep you hydrated on a hot day. 

And as good as beer might taste when it’s warm out, it isn’t a replacement for water. In fact, alcohol and coffee will actually dehydrate you in the long run.  

Summary

Here’s a few things to remember when you’re out and about in the heat…

• Slip on a t-shirt
• Slop on some sun cream
• Slurp on a drink

Stay safe in the sun and have a pleasant summer holiday.