The Safety Tip is provided by Hoos Ready and U.Va.'s Office of Emergency Preparedness on the 11th of every month.

July 11, 2011 — Summer is officially here and with it comes weather that is substantially hotter and more humid. When the humidity is high, our bodies are unable to cool by perspiring because sweat does not evaporate efficiently. This can cause heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke (hyperthermia), which can be deadly. 

To prevent these hot-weather health emergencies, heed these common-sense tips:

• Avoid outdoor activities during the peak heat times of day.
• Increase your fluid intake. Do not consume alcohol or sugary drinks that dehydrate your body; rather, consume water and beverages like sports drinks to replace the salt and minerals that perspiration removes from the body.
• If you must be outdoors, wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and light, loose clothing.
• Try to be in an air-conditioned place. If this is not available to you, call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief locations close to you.

For information, contact the Office of Emergency Preparedness at 434-982-0565 or uvaoep@virginia.edu.