Follow These Tips To Stay Safe In El Paso’s Excessive Heat

El Paso summers are brutal. Triple digit heat will make you feel like a chicken in an oven. The El Paso Fire Department wants to make sure you stay safe this summer and released a list of tips to help you make it through the summer heat:

• Excessive Heat Safety - Know the signs of heat related illnesses. These include in order of progression: heat rash, sunburn (sunburn reduces the body’s ability to cool off), heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency.
· Stay indoors and limit your exposure to the sun.
· If possible move outdoor work to morning or evening hours.
· Wear light-colored, lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
· Drink plenty of water and replace electrolytes. Avoid heavy meals, caffeine and alcohol.
· Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink water.
· At minimum, you should be drinking eight, 8-ounce glasses of water a day.
· Protect face and head; wear a wide-brimmed hat.
· Sunscreens with and SPF of 30 or more applied 30 minutes prior to going outside should be applied to all surfaces that will be exposed the sun.
· Check on friends and family, especially the elderly.
· NEVER leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
· Ensure pets have plenty of water and access to shade throughout the day.