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Posted on 07/21/2025 5:31:25 AM PDT by Red Badger
When the summer heats up, many of us try to stay indoors as much as possible. But there are times when you need to be outside for work, events and activities.
Excessive heat can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. We explain the different symptoms you should look for and ways to help prevent and treat each one.
DEHYDRATION
Dehydration happens when you aren't getting enough fluids. This can lead to your body not functioning properly. It is a cause of both heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
It doesn't just happen during excessive heat. Dehydration can also be caused by diarrhea, sweating, and vomiting.
Symptoms of dehydration
Thirst is often the first sign of dehydration. Other signs of mild to moderate dehydration include:
* Headache
* Fatigue
* Dry or sticky mouth
* Not urinating much
* Dark yellow urine
* Muscle cramps
* Low blood pressure
* Chills
* Flushed skin
* Lack of sweating
Signs of severe dehydration include the above, but also:
* Dizziness
* Rapid heartbeat
* Rapid breathing
* Fainting
* Sleepiness or lack of energy
Ways to prevent dehydration
Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. You should also drink water before you're thirsty. People who work or need to be out in the heat should drink 8 oz. of water every 20 minutes. Even if you're inside, you should still remember to drink plenty of water when it's hot outside.
Avoid drinks with caffeine, such as iced coffee, soda, energy drinks and iced tea. Caffeine is dehydrating.
Instead, choose plain water, sparkling water or water infused with fresh fruit like cucumber or lemon. Electrolyte replacement drinks may be helpful for long stretches of outdoor activity.
HEAT EXHAUSTION
Heat exhaustion is caused by your body's loss of water and salt. This is usually caused by a lot of sweating, especially in hot conditions. It's an early stage of heat stroke.
People who are at increased risk for heat exhaustion include:
* older adults
* children
* people who are overweight or obese
* people who have heart or other health conditions (such as diabetes or kidney disease)
* people taking certain medications.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion
If you notice someone with any of the symptoms of heat exhaustion, have them sit or lie down in a shady spot. You can also give them cold drinks and apply cool, wet cloths on their skin.
Heat exhaustion symptoms include:
* Overly tired or weak
* Nausea
* Dizziness or briefly passing out
* Cool or clammy skin that may appear flushed or pale
* Headache
* Heavy sweating
* High body temperature
If the person doesn't get better or the symptoms get worse, they should get medical care immediately.
Ways to prevent heat exhaustion
When the weather starts heating up, it can take a few weeks for your body to get used to it. Be mindful of this and increase your water intake.
If you usually exercise outdoors, do it during the early morning hours. The evenings can still be pretty warm, so be sure to wait until it's shady if you are going to exercise later in the day.
Wear lightweight clothing that is cool to the touch and breathable. Avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester that don't allow your body's natural cooling system to work.
If you are working outside or children are playing sports outdoors, take regular breaks. Schedule at least 10 minutes in the shade for every hour of work or activity. Children, older people and those who are not as fit need more rest.
HEAT STROKE
Heat stroke is a very dangerous condition. It happens when the body can no longer cool down properly. This can cause the body temperature to rise to 106° F rapidly. Heat stroke can cause permanent disability or death if emergency treatment isn't given.
Symptoms of heat stroke
When a person has heat stroke, they may stop sweating. They may also get what feels like chills although their body temperature is higher. Other symptoms may include:
* Confusion or slurred speech
* Loss of consciousness
* Hot, dry skin
* Seizures
* Extremely high body temperature (above 104° F)
* Rapid pulse and heart rate
If you see someone with these symptoms, call 911 right away.
In the meantime, move the person to a shaded area, and remove outer clothing. Cool the person quickly with cold water on the skin or by soaking clothes in cool water. You can also use a fan or other clothing to circulate air around the person to help with cooling.
Ways to prevent heat stroke
You can help prevent heat stroke in the same way you can prevent heat exhaustion. Drink lots of water, wear proper clothing, exercise at cooler times and take breaks in shady areas.
When is a heat illness an emergency?
Heat exhaustion isn't usually an emergency. If you or someone you know cools down in about 30 minutes, there isn't cause for concern.
However, if someone has signs of heat stroke listed above, call 911 immediately.
This blog was medically reviewed by occupational and environmental medicine physician Sheri Belafsky, M.D.
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“I am also in the market for an air conditioned lawn mowing tractor instead of waiting until evening to mow the yard and finishing at 2200 hrs.”
I am 78 and my battery push mower and I were still making the rounds. Wife surprised me with a self-propelled one just before summer set in.
That is scary!
I try to get all my barn and garden chores done before 10am, but even then, I will start pouring sweat and that’s my cue to stop and go in.
I have started drinking electrolytes first thing before I head out and that helps a ton
Years ago, a Muslim doctor in Omaha who had made the pilgrimage to Mecca and when they suspect someone of heat stroke, they wet them down with tepid water and fan them to recreate the body sweating and the evaporation pulling the heat out of the body. There was a high school football player they brought in with a helicopter and they poured water on the kid while underneath the helicopter blades. American doctors will put a person in shock by submersing them in ice when the body just needs help mimicking its natural process.
I work at a baseball park and Saturday we had temps in the upper 90s. I thought I drank a lot of water. In the middle of the night, my legs started cramping and hurt like heck. I got up and drank several large glasses of water.
I won’t make that mistake again.
Sports drinks like Gatorade and Power-Ade have sodium, potassium and other electrolytes to prevent the cramps.............
There is a powder called “Liquid IV” that my 400M running daughter’s coach swears by, as does my daughter, both sugar-containing and sugar free.
So I’ve bought it.
It works well; I think better than other sports drinks. Not sure why.
https://www.eatthis.com/is-liquid-iv-good-for-you/
Probably because you can add as much electrolyte as you want and not be held to what the mfrs want to put in or not............
Maybe so.
According to studies it will rehydrate you faster than water due to its specific ingredients.
That said, West Texas is no place to mess with dehydration, so I’ll take the experience of a West Texas coach on that issue.
Sodium: Essential for fluid balance and helps retain water.
Potassium: Plays a role in maintaining proper water balance and nutrient transport.
Salt: A source of sodium.
Potassium citrate and dipotassium phosphate: Sources of
potassium.
Sodium citrate: Helps balance flavor and is a source of sodium.
You are so correct Red Badger. The sad thing is that I have access to all of the sports drinks for free and didn’t want to drink them because of the sodium. I preach to all our employees to stay hydrated and didn’t listen to my own advice.
I better learn to practice what I preach.
#13 I read a Nextdoor post last week where the person says their bill was $675...! plus the trash and sewer fee of almost $200. They did not mention the water bill amount.
#21 Here are some choices....
Air Conditioner on a push mower
https://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/threads/air-conditioner-on-a-push-mower.49128/
The Wonderboy X-100
https://discuss.machinerypete.com/t/the-wonderboy-x-100-the-experimental-futuristic-lawn-mower-of-the-late-1950s/2499
The Comfort Lawn Mower of 1957
https://www.facebook.com/oldhistoricalpicturess/posts/the-power-mower-of-the-future-the-comfort-lawn-mower-of-1957in-the-1950s-america/447873931689906/
Ferris ISX3300
https://curtisindustries.net/shop/product/premium-ac-cab-for-ferris-isx3300/
Yep
That’s because you don’t get government grants to do studies all day. 😎
I was fortunate - my husband pulled up our lawns, front and back - several years ago and we now have native plants and trees - my water bill has never gone over tier 1.
Some of my neighbors are elderly or disabled and have to keep the a/c at 74 degrees so their bills are terrible.
We have a pow-wow in my front yard when the bills come in and we all compare notes - the ones with large lawns, front and back, are getting hit hard with high water bills, unfortunately, the elderly and disabled too because of having to keep the a/c turned low.
In England they do the same rip off as here. It is because of owners giving investors a percent plus what they want which is always more.
https://dailysceptic.org/2025/07/22/the-great-water-rip-off-has-been-obvious-for-decades/
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