Summer Pro-Tip #1; Working Out in the Heat

Folks like me (scientists) end up being outside a lot in a variety of field conditions; pretty days are nice but you need to be able to work in both the heat and the cold, and during precipitation events as well. If pays off handsomely to know the little tips and tricks that make working in those conditions a lot easier to handle, as working outdoors is both dangerous and necessary.

Hyperthermia is a condition characterized by an increase in core body temperature above the average 37 degrees C, or 98.6 degrees F. and basically means that you have failed to thermoregulate your body's core temperature. This usually occurs through being heated directly by the sun (radiation), too much or too restrictive clothing (prevents convection), lack of evaporative cooling, or being mildly dehydrated which impedes sweat production (evaporation) or cooling through respiration. Hyperthermia is tricky and it sneaks up on you; actively combating hyperthermia before it rears its ugly head is the best strategy to take. How can you stop hyperthermia in its tracks? Here's how;

1.) Be completely hydrated. Your urine should be clear, copious, and you should be urinating approximately every two hours if you are completely hydrated.

2.) Avoid working in direct sunlight as much as possible.

3.) If you must work in direct sunlight, dress appropriately by wearing lighter colors, loose clothing that protects your skin from sunburn (which, other than being an annoyance, increases your core temperature to boot). Wear a hat which fits your head well and has plenty of built in ventilation to help keep your head cool. If you are wearing boots, take them off during every break to allow the built up heat to dissipate.

4.) Wet your clothing if possible as the evaporating water will help cool you, but wring these out to reduce weight. Having a wet cotton shirt underneath something like a panama shirt which is loose helps a great deal but it still modest.

5.) Avoid drinking caffeine or eating big meals prior to working outdoors and avoid drinking caffeine while working outdoors because these increase your metabolic rate, which increases the amount of body heat your body puts out. Additionally, both require water in your body to process, which could lead to potential dehydration.

6.) If you are still feeling hot with all of these tips, wet handkerchiefs or bandanas and tie them around both wrists and around your neck, centering them on the major veins and arteries located in each. Your veins and arteries are closest to your skin in the interiors of your wrists and the right side of your neck. Cooling the blood moving through them will help you cool off quickly.