If it looks like you just took a shower after five minutes of being outside, summer must be here. Bringing with it hair-horrifying humidity and unbearable heat waves.

Last summer 141 million people in over 24 states were under heat advisories. And emergency rooms saw an increased admittance for those suffering from heat exhaustion or other conditions. Check out these warning signs to watch out for and stay cool this summer.

1. Dizziness. If you start to feel weak, disoriented, and dizzy after a day in the sun, you could be dehydrated [1]. This happens when your body loses more water than it takes in. So make sure you fuel up.
2. Muscle cramps. You meet your friends for some tag football in the park. But after a couple hours of running in the heat your leg begins to cramp. Don’t ignore this. You could be suffering from a heat cramp [2]. Take a break in a cool place and re-hydrate.
3. Increased heartbeat. If you’re working/playing outdoors and your heart rate speeds up and you start heavily sweating, you might have heat exhaustion [3]. This happens when your body can’t properly cool itself. Immediately drink water/sports drinks and rest in a cool place with your legs positioned higher than your heart.
4. Trouble breathing. If you can’t properly breathe, become severely anxious, start profusely sweating (and can’t stop), you could be suffering from a heat stroke [4]. Symptoms can sometimes resemble that of a heart attack. Your body temp. is abnormally elevated and can be fatal if not immediately treated.

What Can You Do?

• Facts about heat waves [5]. 
• Tips for helping people without air conditioning [6].