Summer Emergency Survival

emergency survivalSummer heat claims an average of 200 lives each year. We’re going out on a limb to guess that the majority could be prevented through basic emergency survival tactics, but the kind of sweltering weather that can cause exhaustion or stroke is sneaky. During the months of June, July, and August, crippling heat waves can happen almost anywhere. There are the usual geographic suspects of southern California, the desert southwest, Texas, the deep south, and Florida, but recent years have seen the possibility arise in places like Chicago or New York City also.

There are specific steps you can take to prevent heat injuries like sunburn, heat cramps, and the aforementioned heatstroke or heat exhaustion. Here are a few:

1. 10 am to 3 pm is when the sun’s rays are at their peak of destructive power. A word to the wise is avoid exposure during that time frame if you can.

2. If you make a living as a construction worker, this advice might be hard to implement, but reduce physical activity if you can.

3. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-colored, lightweight, loose-fitting clothing outdoors. Lighter colors reflect instead of absorb heat, helping your body to avoid overheating.

4. Drink plenty of fluids, 8 to 10 glasses a day recommended, more if you’re exercising or working outside.

5. Use a sunscreen with a protection factor of at least SPF 15 if you’re out in the sun.

The term emergency survival conjures memories of national emergencies and natural disasters. The truth is you can suffer serious medical issues just as easily from simple sunlight. Probably the most serious heat exposure to be aware of is heat stroke, when the body stops sweating but body temperature continues to rise. Learn to recognize symptoms like headache, nausea, vomiting, eye problems, and even unconsciousness. Heat exhaustion is a medical emergency! Call 9-1-1.

The Holistic Survival Team

Holistic Survival

Flickr / goldberg