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ufgNews
POSTED JULY 2013
UNITED FIRE GROUP
Keep yourself safe in extreme heat
The entire country has been roasting in recent days and it doesn’t look like it’s going to go away any
time soon. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can come on quickly, so make sure to take precautions
to beat the heat!
• Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity, like sports
and landscaping, until the coolest part of the day
(early morning or late evening).
• Wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Clothes that
are white or light, like pastels, reflect the sunshine
and can keep you cooler. Black clothes absorb
light, and absorb heat.
• Stick to fruits and veggies. Heavy foods like
meat and other proteins increase metabolic heat
production and increase water loss. Eat light meals
during the hottest parts of the day.
• Drink plenty of water. You sweat more
than you realize and you need to make
sure you replenish what you lose. Avoid
caffeinated beverages and alcohol,
as they are dehydrating.
• Spend more time in air
conditioning. The more time you
can spend cooling off, the better
you’ll feel overall.
• Avoid salty foods. Like
caffeinated beverages and
alcohol, salt dehydrates. If you
must partake in salt, make sure
to drink plenty of water.
• Stay out of the sun. This one
is a given. Keep to the shade
when possible and make sure
to wear sunscreen and proper
clothing protection if sun exposure is
unavoidable.
• Take a cool bath. If you end up
overheated, a cool—not ice cold—bath
can help bring your core body temperature down.
• Never leave any children or pets in a car
unattended, even for a minute. Think of how you
feel when you’re walking from the car to work or
a store. It only takes minutes for a car to become
unbearably hot and dangerous.
UNITED FIRE GROUP
118 SECOND AVENUE SE
Source: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml
CEDAR RAPIDS IOWA 52401
800-332-7977 WWW.UNITEDFIREGROUP.COM