HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
The summer sun is taking the temperatures into the triple digits.
The hot weather means people who work outdoors, like Billy Sipes, have to work harder not to overheat. Sipes is the owner of Harvest-Monrovia Lawn Care.
"We start hydrating in the morning just like athletes do," Sipes said. "We try to wear a lot of clothes and cover as much as possible. Wear our sunscreen on the skin that is exposed; wear hats with wide brims to cover our face and necks."
Dr. Tim Howard said keeping up with that routine in the summer can keep you from showing signs of heat exhaustion.
"It's classic symptoms. It's dizziness, fatigue, rapid heart rate, you can have excessive sweating," Howard said. "You can have nausea, excessive vomiting and it's really the body's way of telling you it's too hot."
Howard said to keep from getting too hot, just add water.
"If you're out in the sun, it's going to be closer to 24-48 ounces and a good gauge is how long it takes you to have to go to the bathroom once you start drinking fluids," Howard said. "If you're not going to the bathroom and you're drinking fluids, then you keep going."
Howard also advises taking five-minute breaks every hour if you work out in the heat, and don't wait until you are thirsty to drink water.
He said if you don't like water, drink Gatorade.
Copyright 2012 WAFF. All rights reserved.
Hydration is an important part of avoiding heat exhaustion.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WTVM, a Raycom Media Station.
