Summer is a lovely time of year. It’s a time for exotic vacations, backyard barbeques, and weekends at the lake. There are also times when it’s best to escape the summer heat by hanging out indoors. It can also be a scary time if the correct precautions aren’t taken to prepare your home to withstand the extreme outside temperatures of the season. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious conditions ‘that can occur when the body becomes overheated, and it can happen anywhere, outdoors or indoors. A heat stroke requires emergency medical attention and, if if not taken care of immediately, may cause harm to your kidneys, heart, brain, and muscles, and in intense cases a heat stroke may be fatal. So think Safety First, both indoors and outdoors. Discover how you can make sure you and your family are safe from heat sickness this summer.
Know the indicators
You can be careful but things can still happen. Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat-related ailments: nausea, dizziness, headache, rapid heartbeat, pain radiating in your chest, trouble breathing, and more. If you are out of your home and show any of these symptoms, seek air-conditioned shelter as soon as possible. If you do have have improvement within 30 minutes or are having breathing problems, loss of consciousness, or pain in your chest, call your doctor as soon as possible or go to the nearest emergency room.
Have your A/C equipment checked ASAP
Proactive maintenance of your home’s A/C equipment will help avoid a breakdown on the warmest summer days, when your A/C system is running at top capacity all day and night for weeks and months. During a proactive maintenance service, an expert air conditioning technician can normally avert an emergency by finding issues and replacing parts before they go out, and getting an ac tune up so it works like new again throughout the summer when its needed the most.
Dress lighter
Wear loose, lightweight clothes, particularly when you’re going outdoors. Stay away from dark hues, particularly black clothing, since dark colors hold heat. The color white helps keep you cooler by reflecting the sun. It’s also good to wear a wide-brimmed or gardening hat to help stop the sun from shining down on your face, and avoid layering clothing.
Stay Hydrated
Help keep you and your loved ones hydrated by drinking a large volume of fluids, especially water or juice. Just because you are not thirsty doesn’t mean your body isn’t in need of hydration so try carrying a water bottle with you at all times. When it’s exceptionally hot, especially during mid-day, steer clear of drinks with alcohol or caffeine because they can accelerate dehydration.
To make sure your A/C system is in good health and is ready to keep you cool in the event of an aircon repair emergency, call Bryant Heating & Cooling Service Experts. We are available day or night so whenever you need us, we are here for you.