Summer is a wonderful time of the year. It’s a time for family vacations, backyard barbeques, and evenings at the lake. There are also days when it’s best to escape the summer heat by spending the day in an air conditioned home or building. It can also be a hazardous time if the correct precautions aren’t taken to prepare your home to accommodate the extreme external temperatures of the season. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are urgent conditions ‘that can take place when the body becomes overheated, and it can happen anywhere, outside and inside. A heat stroke commands emergency medical treatment and, if treatment is not received, may cause injury to your brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles, and in extreme cases a heat stroke may be fatal. So keep in mind Safety First, both outside and inside your house. Discover how you can keep your loved ones safe from heat sickness this summer.
Know the indicators
You can take precautions but sometimes that’s not enough. Understand the signs of heat exhaustion and heat-related illnesses: nausea, fainting, headache, rapid heartbeat, pain in your chest, trouble breathing, and more. If you are out of your home and exhibit any of these symptoms, seek air-conditioned shelter straightaway. If you do have have improvement within 30 minutes or are having trouble breathing, loss of consciousness, or pain in your chest, call your doctor immediately or go to the nearest ER.
Have your A/C equipment checked immediately
Proactively maintaining your home’s AC will help prevent a breakdown on the high temperature summer days, when your air conditioning system is operating at full capacity around the clock for weeks and months. During a standard maintenance call, an expert air conditioning technician can usually prevent an emergency by locating troubles and replacing parts before they give out, and getting an ac tune up so it works like new again throughout the summer when you need it the most.
Dress lighter
Wear loose, lightweight clothing, particularly when you’re going outside. Don’t wear dark shades, especially black clothing, since dark colors absorb heat. The color white reflects the sun and helps keep you cooler. It also helps to wear a wide-brimmed or gardening hat to keep the sun off your face, and never layer clothing.
Drink Up
Make sure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, especially water or juice. Just because you are not thirsty doesn’t mean your body isn’t in need of hydration so try carrying a water bottle with you always. During a heat wave or peak heat of the day, avoid drinks that include alcohol or caffeine since they can accelerate dehydration.
To make sure your AC is in good shape and is equipped to keep your family cool if there’s an aircon repair emergency, call McKinley Heating Service Experts. We are available day or night so whenever you need us, we are ready for you.