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SALT LAKE CITY — With temperatures approaching 100 degrees, people who spend time outside need to take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses.
“We’re sweating all the time when it’s hot outside, but it evaporates off our bodies so quickly that we kind of forget sometimes that we are losing a substantial amount of water, usually all the time when we’re outside,” said Eric Holmes, paramedic and spokesperson for the Unified Fire Department.
Holmes said calls for heat-related illnesses spike this time of year. He said people should begin drinking water before they even feel thirsty to avoid dehydration.
“Our bodies are over 70 percent water. (It’s) very important to replenish it in our bodies at all times every day,” he said. “Make sure we’re drinking tons of water. Make sure you’re taking adequate breaks from both the sun and manual labor outside.”
Nikki Kubinski has been a mail carrier for several years. Their trucks are not air-conditioned, so they come up with their own cooling systems. She freezes water bottles the night before, so she always has cool water on her 22-mile route. She also carries a spray bottle to cool down between stops.
“I’ll be dry by the time I get to my next stop, but it’s refreshing for a minute,” she said.
Several people who live across Salt Lake County have homes without air conditioning. If your home becomes unbearably hot, the county has opened Cool Zones at several senior centers and libraries.
Check the Salt Lake County website for more information about Cool Zones near you.
