National Heat Awareness Day: Hydrate or Melt
Break out your personal fans and put some respect on your thermostat – today is National Heat Awareness Day, the unsung holiday that reminds us all that yes, you can get heatstroke while pretending it’s a good idea to “just walk to brunch.”
It’s a national reminder to take the heat seriously, especially as climate change keeps turning the planet into a slow cooker. Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the U.S., often claiming more lives annually than floods, hurricanes and tornadoes combined.
And here’s the kicker: most heat-related illnesses are preventable. Hydrate like your life depends on it, because it kind of does. Wear loose, light-colored clothes, and for the love of SPF, take breaks if you’re outside.
Employers, take note too: outdoor workers are at high risk. If your job site feels like the inside of a toaster oven, then shade, water and breaks aren’t “nice-to-haves,” they’re mandatory.
So whether you’re hitting the beach, mowing the lawn, or just trying to survive that one friend’s “let’s go hiking” text, check the forecast, know the signs of heat exhaustion and maybe don’t challenge the sun to a sweat-off.
Happy Heat Awareness Day! Stay cool, stay shady and most importantly, don’t be a HOT mess!
