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I was down with heat exchaustion for two days last week, no fun! With the weeds increasing due to our summer rains it's easy to overdo it - and I did.
My local health food store sells sachets of powder called 'electro-mix' which - when mixed with water, help replenish the minerals lost due to excessive sweating. It's a natural alternative to drinks such as Gatorade which are loaded with sugar. I recommend this for anyone doing work outside in the hot months.
Thanks, Dutchlady1. I'll look for it. The heat is amazing down here but it's the sweaty clothes that slow me down. They limit my mobility and force me inside to change. Once inside I realize how hot it was out there. I'd try ice in my bra (like the previous thread suggest) but it would add to the moisture. Humidity, humidity. :}
Electro-mix is great, I'm a mail carrier in Tucson, AZ and that's what I've been using for years now after a women gardner recomended it to me. I've been using it since, I even use it at home when in the garden in midday.(which I have to do sometimes). Great article, and very good timing also.
I've worked construction on and off for 40 years.
Some tips and tricks.
Running cool not cold water on the insides of your wrists cools you down nicely.
Cold water is a BIG shock.
If you have a beard or long hair wet'em down. More evaporation.
A wet cloth or bandana tied around your neck helps... just keep it wet.
Wear wicking clothes.
These are basically sports and hiking apparel designed to evaporate perspiration from your skin.
Evaporation= cooling
I know it sounds bad but do not wear antiperspirant underarm deodorizers.
You want to sweat.
Try to stay out of AC for long periods as much as possible when you're gardening or working outdoors.
(of course come in if heat related problems arise)
If you constantly run in and out from Cold to Hot you pay for it.
Let your body find a rhythm.
We rarely use AC except for sleeping.
Sweating is natures way of cooling you. Do it!
If it's too hot in the shade... it's too hot period!
Get to shelter!
And as said before DRINK, DRINK, DRINK!
Gatorade and those style drinks do contain sugar but way less than sodas and you're working...
So you need calories.
Now there are sugar free versions also.
Thank you hernryr10 - a wet cloth around the neck, or even over the hair does wonders for me when it's too hot.
Having a chronic disease that is exacerbated by the heat has lead me to learn a number of tricks for staying cool in the summer months:
Pre-cool if you know the heat will get you down: take a cool shower or bath before tackling the garden in the heat. Damp hair under a sun hat will also help keep your temperature down.
Don't be afraid to get wet: dip your feet into a cool bowl of water, or sprinkle your toes for some instant relief when you're outside. Similar to the trick with the wrists: the large number of blood vessels near the surface of the skin relay the temperature change quickly to the rest of your body, and you can feel instant relief. For longer lasting effects soak you feeet in cool water for a few minutes.
Add a small spritzer to your garden tools: fill with cold water, (add some ice if it will fit, or keep your spritzer in the fridge) and whenever your feeling weak from the heat spritz yourself all over. Face, back, back of the neck, midriff, arms, legs and feet are all good spots. The evaporation will act like the cooling action of sweat. Fan yourself to achieve maximum benefits. Add some scent, (orange flower water, or rose water is great) if your feeling fancy and want to smell great too.
Again, a damp cloth is incredibly effective: you don't need to limit yourself to a purely utilitarian hankie either - any water-safe fabric will do. Add some flair with a beautiful scarf tied around your neck, wrapped around your hairline, or go full turban style with a small, discreet, well padded ice-pack tucked in for good measure. This trick works well under a hat as well. Just be careful to not give yourself head freeze.
Always keep a good sized gel-pack in the freezer - I don't know about anyone else, but after I over-do it in the garden my back is usually killing me. Not only will cold packs relieve aching muscles, this is a great way for cooling down too. Many gel-packs are designed to stay cold, or frozen, longer than a regular ice pack. If you don't want to go into the house when your working, bring one out in a cooler with your water or juice, or simply wrap all in a damp towel or dish cloth, put in the shade, and use as needed. You can purchase cooling vests and other clothing to really stay cool. You can search for these products online; Polar Products and CoolSport both make cooling garments and are a good place to start.
For some of the more severe effects of overheating, take a bath. Start with lukewarm water and gradually add cooler water to bring your body temperature down. Submerge the torso. If you can bear it, submerge hair and scalp.
Don't let it get to this point though - there are so many ways to 'Beat the Heat' - use the methods that work for you, and most importantly, use your common sense. We all need to be the best judges of our personal limits to stay healthy and to stay gardening.
