Heat-related
illness affects hundreds of people in Colorado every summer. Here are some tips
to help you have fun in the sun while staying hydrated and
protected from harmful rays.

Protect against the heat. If you’re headed outside, follow these guidelines:

• Drink
  plenty of water: Use a colorful water bottle as a reminder to stay hydrated
  throughout the day.
• Try
  to complete outside activities during early morning hours and evenings when
  possible.
• Seek shade and stay under shade as much as
  possible.
• Wear
  a hat.
• Remember that humidity is more important than
  actual temperature; when the humidity is high, your sweat can’t evaporate as
  easily, and your body has a harder time cooling itself. This makes you more
  prone to heat exhaustion and heatstroke, so take extra precautions to keep
  cool.
• If
  possible, stay in an air-conditioned area. If your home does not have air
  conditioning, you can go to a shopping mall, library or place that does. Even a
  few hours in air-conditioning can keep the body cool.
• Don’t forget about protecting your pets from the
  heat too. Be sure to provide pets with plenty of fresh water and areas of shade
  to help keep them cool.

Recognize
the signs of heat
exhaustion and/or sunstroke. These include:

• headache
• nausea or feeling sick to your
  stomach
• dizziness
• heavy sweating
• thirst
• elevated body temperature

Get out of
the heat if you experience any of these symptoms.

Skin protection is vital to prevent sunburn and to reduce the risk of skin cancer. Below
are some quick tips on how you can shield yourself from harmful ultraviolet
(UV) rays:

• apply sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and reapply throughout the day
• wear clothing that shades skin from the sun or has built-in sun
  protection
• wear a hat that has a brim all the way around that shades your face,
  ears and the back of your neck
• wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk
  of cataracts

When you’re
out and about taking advantage of all the fun activities summer has to offer,
remember to stay cool, hydrated and informed to prevent heat exhaustion, heat
stroke and other health concerns.