How to prevent heat stroke in a hot, Australian summer

Anybody who has experienced the full intensity of an Australian summer will attest to just how important it is to look after yourself in the extreme Australian heat. It is all too easy to become dehydrated and fatigued in the full blaze of the sun's rays. And the bad news is that Australian summers are only going to become hotter. As the planet warms up, it is more important than ever to take care of your body to prevent conditions such as heat stroke creeping up on you. Heat stroke might seem like a mild condition, but it can actually be life threatening. In its most severe forms, the hyperthermia associated with heat stroke can cause seizures, organ damage, comas, and death. So how exactly can you look after yourself in the summer months to ensure that you do not suffer from this?

Have air conditioning installed in your home.

In the extreme heat of an Australian summer, staying on the shaded side of the street might not be enough to keep heat stroke at bay. The best way of ensuring that you always have a cool environment to return to once you have been outside is by installing air conditioning inside your home. The circulation of cool air will mean that there is always a safe space that is cool and away from the sun's rays.

Of course, you could always visit a library or a store to experience air conditioning, but this can be an inconvenience, and when you just want to get on with the day's activities in a way that does not compromise your health, air conditioning units in the home are the best solution. For more information, contact a company like Kintore Airconditioning.

Create a sensible summer eating plan.

As the saying goes, you are what you eat, but eating in the summertime and with a view to keeping heatstroke from creeping on you is easier said than done. Everybody needs to take in calories each day to fuel their bodies and to have enough nutrients to function well and have a good level of health. With that said, eating also heats up your body as you are providing it with energy when you consume foods. If you eat the wrong foods, this can leave you susceptible to heat stroke.

Avoid rich, heavy foods, and instead opt for nutrient-rich but lighter foods such as fruits, vegetables and salads, which will give you the sustenance your body requires without overheating it. And, of course, drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated, and always have a bottle of chilled water on you.

Plan your outdoor time well.

A life spent indoors, permanently trapped underneath an air conditioning vent, can be pretty misery inducing, and while it is important that you have your cool indoor time, you will invariably need to spend time outside as well. You might well need to get to work, to the shops to do your weekly grocery shopping, to your parents' house for a visit, or you might simply want to potter around your garden and tend to your flowerbeds. And actually, even though it might be super hot outside, it's still important that you have outdoor time for your own well-being.

So the important thing is to plan and structure this time so that you can get everything done that needs to get done, but you are also protecting your health. Wake up an hour earlier to see your garden and nap at the hottest time of the day, visit your parents once the sun has gone down and the air is much cooler, and turn your midday run into a night time run.


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