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| My daughter in Oman loving the heat |
The most common health risk this time of year when working or playing outside is heat exhaustion. High humidity makes it difficult for a human body to cool itself by sweating as it usually would. So a heat index at 90 or above means your body is really struggling to deal with the heat. Ways to take care of yourself:
Avoid the hottest part of the day to exercise and do work. ( I admit to seldom following the advice.)
Drink lots of water. Staying hydrated is every important for avoiding heat illnesses.
Use the shade if you must be outside.
If you or another feel nauseous, faint, immediately try to cool off with wet cloths, a cool shower and by drinking lots of cold liquid( without caffeine or alcohol)
Confusion or someone who doesn't c respond to efforts to cool down means a medical emergency.
If you or another stops sweating, this is another sign of an emergency.
More details at WebMD
I'm also turning the heat up in my current WIP. Raising the stakes so my protagonists have to face their fears and figure out what it is they really want. I heard a really good speaker at a conference where the subject was theme and premise. We did a couple of exercises that helped us narrow out them to just a few words. My theme for most of my space opera romances if that 'humans want to live free.' Humanity will rise against oppression. Eventually.
Do you know the central theme of your novel? Do you like the heat or hate it? Have you ever suffered or come close to heat exhaustion or helped someone who has?
