Be Vigilant Of Heat-Related Illnesses When Hiking

As the dog days of summer continue, temperatures continually reach or surpass the 90° degree mark. These temperatures bring about dangerous conditions if you don’t pay attention to heat-related illness signs.

Heat-related illnesses include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn and heat rash. Symptoms of these illnesses can cause nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, dizziness, confusion, headaches and fainting.

If any of these symptoms are observed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends moving to a cooler place, drink water, and stop physical activity.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a high heat index is a major contributor to heat-related illnesses. The heat index is a single temperature value that considers how both the outdoor temperature and humidity make you feel. When the humidity is high, your sweat can’t evaporate as easily and your body has more difficulty cooling itself, making you prone to heat exhaustion and heatstroke. When the heat index is 91 F (33 C) or higher, you should take precautions to keep cool.

See a guide on what to look for, and what to do…

 

The following are paid links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.