Wear loose fitting, light colored clothing made of natural fibers like cotton.

Slow down! Avoid strenuous activity, or perform strenuous tasks during the cooler parts of the day.

Stay indoors if possible. If you must go outside, do so in the early morning hours.

Use the air conditioner. If your home is not air conditioned or electricity is out, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine. Keep your windows open and use electric fans. Fans do not cool the air but they evaporate perspiration which helps cool your body. Visit the mall, movie theater or other air conditioned building for a part of each day if possible.

Drink lots of water. Don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink water. By the time you feel thirsty, your body has been in need of water for a long while. Avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine. They can make the effects of the heat worse instead of better. Alcohol actually dehydrates the body.

Eat small, light meals and eat often. A heavy meal diverts blood to the stomach to aid digestion when it is needed at the skin's surface to help cool the body. Also, avoid using the stove during hot weather. Cool foods like jello and popsicles help lower your body's internal temperature.

Take cool showers and baths. They help lower the temperature of your skin.

Check with your doctor about medication. Some medications can make a person more vulnerable to the heat.

Stay in contact with friends or relatives, especially if you live alone. Check on friends and report regularly to others about your own well being.

Below find the two most common heat ailments and symptoms and relief for victims of these ailments.

HEAT EXHAUSTION
Hard physical effort in heat can cause heat exhaustion. The symptoms of heat exhaustion are:

Heavy sweating
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Headaches
Difficulty Breathing
Hyperventilation
Anxiety
Mental Confusion
Fainting
Weak pulse
Pale, clammy skin

Treatment
Get victim out of the heat
Give victim sips of cool water
Loosen victim's clothing
Seek medical attention
Left untreated, a victim of heat exhaustion may suffer heat stroke, which can be fatal.

HEAT STROKE
Heat stroke can be fatal. Be alert to the symptoms and seek medical attention immediately. These are signs of heat stroke:

Comes on suddenly
Body temperature rises to 105°F or more
Victim becomes confused or delirious
Victim stops perspiring and his skin becomes hot, dry and flushed.
Pulse rate increases
Vomiting
Victim becomes unconscious

Treatment
Get victim out of the heat
Seek medical help immediately
Loosen victim's clothing
Apply ice packs to the back of the victim's neck, behind the knees, and under the arms (wherever blood vessels lie close to the skin)
Fan the victim until medical help arrives

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