Jun 23, 09 | Posted by: David Melbye, M.D.

Summer is here, now it’s too warm!

I guess we can file this in the “be careful what you wish for” category.  Everyone wants to be outside during the summer, but heat advisories need to be taken as seriously as the dreaded cold and wind chill advisories.  On days when the heat index becomes dangerous it is time to turn on the air conditioning and the fans and stay inside.  If you do play outside remember to drink a lot of water and stay in the shade.  If you decide to go swimming to stay cool don’t forget the sunscreen, stay hydrated and take a couple of breaks in the shade.  It is best to stay inside during the hottest part of the day, typically 11-3.  Watch out for symptoms of overheating like nausea, vomiting, fatigue and moist clammy skin.  If you start to notice any of these symptoms, take your kids into a cool area, have them lie down and drink fluids with electrolytes like Gatorade.  For those of us who live on this side of town, it is one of those days where it is finally nice to hear the phrase “cooler near the lake”.

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