When summertime comes, you may be anxious to get outdoors and participate in activities such as sports or outdoor home renovations and yard work. The bright sunshine and fewer rainy days mean outdoor fun is much more possible. But with the nicer weather comes higher temperatures, which can cause danger to you and your family. One such danger is heat exhaustion.

Heat exhaustion occurs when the outside temperature is excessively high and you become dehydrated. Heat exhaustion symptoms include high body temperature, exhaustion, dizziness, and pale skin. Although you may have a very high temperature when suffering from heat exhaustion, most times you will not sweat. This is due to the dehydration that is a contributing factor in heat exhaustion. Very old and very young people are most prone to suffering heat exhaustion, as are people with certain medical conditions. Heat exhaustion can lead to death, so it is extremely important to know how to prevent it.

The easiest thing you can do to prevent heat exhaustion is stay indoors in an air-conditioned building as much as possible. If this is not practical for you and you must go outdoors, be sure to stay hydrated. You should drink plenty of liquids, preferably plain water. However, any non-alcoholic beverage will keep you properly hydrated. You should increase your liquid consumption if you are going to be outside when the air temperature is high. Increase your fluid intake even more if you will be participating in any strenuous physical activity in the heat.

Your choice of clothing can also mean the difference between staying cool and healthy or suffering from heat exhaustion. You should always wear lightweight items of clothing in extreme heat. Your clothing should also be light in color to avoid soaking up the heat from the sun’s rays. Wear as little clothing as is appropriate-for example, you should wear short sleeved shirts instead of long sleeved ones, and shorts instead of pants or jeans.

Whenever you take part in physical activity in high temperatures, always listen to your body. Take frequent breaks to drink water and to rest, indoors in air conditioning if possible or outdoors in a shady spot if access to the indoors is limited. When you participate in group physical activities outdoors, everyone should be allowed to take breaks as often as they need to, or the entire group can take a break as soon as one person feels it is necessary to do so.

Finally, be sure to check on family members or neighbors who may be prone to suffering from heat exhaustion. Elderly people in particular are often isolated and so it is a good idea to make sure they are doing well, especially in the middle of a heat wave.

Heat exhaustion can be a deadly condition, but fortunately it is very preventable. If you prepare properly for outdoor activities in extreme heat and know the symptoms of impending heat exhaustion, you can be sure you, your family, and your friends will remain safe and have an enjoyable summer.