“If you reach the point where youre actually thirsty, youre already dehydrated.”
John Schumann, the Oklahoma-based executive medical director of Oak Street Health.
Martin Huecker, an emergency care doctor at UofL Health in Louisville, Kentucky.
The vital signs change.
The heart rate and blood pressure start to change.
You should immediately call 911 if you notice confusion in someone who has been out in the heat.
Below, experts share what theyd avoid doing on hot days when keeping safety in mind.
They wouldnt just look at the air temperature.
When extreme temperatures are in town, you shouldnt assume theyre no big deal.
Instead, you should plan ahead and be aware of the weather forecast, Huecker said.
Some days the temperature isnt telling the whole story.
They wouldnt let themselves get thirsty.
If you reach the point where youre actually thirsty, youre already dehydrated, said Schumann.
You should be hydrating enough so that youre not getting thirsty.
But thats not the only thing your body might need.
If you are sweating a lot, you lose more than just water, Huecker said.
Youre losing sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium.
Brands likeLMNT,Liquid I.V.andPedialytesell electrolyte powders and drinks.
You dont have to get real fancy and spend a bunch of money.
They wouldnt use alcohol to quench their thirst.
Moderation is going to be the key.
If youre someone who likes to drink, it can be refreshing.
But when its this hot out … alcohol will dehydrate you faster than you otherwise would, Schumann said.
If you could avoid drinking, [thats] so much better.
And stay with something thats going to keep you hydrated.
They wouldnt stay outside at the hottest time of day.
They wouldnt remain in the sun without taking breaks.
They wouldnt forget bug and pest concerns.
you oughta keep more than just sun safety in mind.
And the same goes for mosquitoes.
Many people tend to go swimming on hot days, but these insects often linger around bodies of water.
They wouldnt skip sunblock.
When its hot outside, Schumann said he wearssunscreenand a hat to avoid sunburns.
They wouldnt ignore how certain medications react to heat and sun.
Some antibiotics can make people more sun-sensitive, where theyll burn more easily, maybe even get a rash.
Some diuretics will do it.
Some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents will do it things like ibuprofen.
And some hormones will do it.
I would just be smart about it.This article originally appeared onHuffPost.
