Ask Aunt B

Dear Aunt B,

School is about to start. It is still hotter than the blazes. How can I help the children stay cool? Oh my and then there are the sports starting. Is this the hottest summer ever?

Hotter than

Dear Hotter than,

For the easiest question. Just a simple google search gives us so much information. In the month of May we had 20+days over 90. So far we have had over 34 days over 100. The hottest day so far was 109. Dang, that’s hot. In 1980 the hottest day I could find was 113. So let’s just say it is hot, very very hot.

You are right to be concerned about the heat and your children’s reactions to it. We should all be concerned about the heat and how our bodies handle the heat.

There are different levels of heat-related illnesses. They range from heat rash to heat stroke. Please do not take my advice as medical advice. Always check with your health care provider when you have physical symptoms, not your Aunt B.

Heat rash looks like small pimples on our skin. If those you love experience those, stay in the cool and keep it dry. The next is sunburn. Get out of the sun until your skin heals. Try some cool cloths on the burned area. I believe aloe vera gel (keep it in the refrigerator) is very soothing on the burns. These burns can be very dangerous. Please wear sunscreen when you are going to be out in the sun and reapply often. Heat exhaustion is very dangerous. If you have heavy sweating and your skin is cold, pale and clammy, you could be experiencing heat exhaustion. You might also experience nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms can be muscle cramps, dizziness and headaches. If you experience these symptoms, move to a cool place, drink some water and get medical help immediately. Finally heat stroke symptoms can be very similar to heat exhaustion but even more extreme. Your temperature rises often above 100 degrees. You could pass out and often you have reduced concentration and impaired judgment. Get medical help if you experience these symptoms.

So, to help yourself and your loved ones, make sure you are all staying hydrated. Stay inside when the temperatures are this extreme. Fans are great to use, even when we are lucky enough to have air conditioning. Wear loose clothing. If possible wear breathable fabrics. Breathable fabrics are cotton, linen, bamboo and even polyester. I was shocked that the polyester was breathable. I used to call polyester the P word because I didn’t like it at all. I think it must have been improved upon. Frankly, still not my favorite fabric. I like natural fibers and believe they are our best bet. There I go again off the topic. There are fabrics available today that are especially manufactured to keep us cooler. Nylon is not a breathable fabric.

If you do not have air conditioning, then definitely try to obtain fans and when possible spend some time in areas that do have some relief from the heat. Use cold cloths on your body and drink a lot.

Eat more cold foods - melons, cucumbers, and lettuce are good examples. Reduce heavy foods and fried foods.

Make these suggestions available to your children to the best of your ability.

Love,

Aunt B

If you would like to send Aunt B a question please email your question to news@forneymessenger.com.