Keeping Cool, When It's Hot

September is one step closer to Fall & that means cooler temperatures. However, Mother Nature doesn’t always look at the calendar. I know here in Texas, some of our hottest days can be in September and as you know, heat in Texas can be brutal, even for those of us born & raised here. Heat exhaustion & heat stroke can sneak up on anyone at any time. Young, old, in-shape or not, it doesn’t matter – you can be in danger of overheating quickly if you don’t listen to what your body is telling you!
There are steps you can take ahead of time to prevent you from succumbing to these dangers. What you snack on, for instance, can make you more susceptible to heat stroke or can help your body become more resilient to the dangers. If you eat a lot of fried or fatty foods, you can be setting yourself up for a bad day. But if you utilize the refrigerators in your trucks for lighter snacks, not only will that supply your body with the proper nutrition you need, but it can give your body the essential nutrients it needs to combat heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
I encourage you to do your own research and find the right snacks for you based on your tastes in food but some things you can eat that will help are cold berries, fruit such as cantaloupe, bananas, apples, oranges, etc. Also, drink a lot of water as well as Gatorade/Powerade or Pedialyte BEFORE you start working in the heat– YES, the drink for babies, Pedialyte. It restocks your body with the needed electrolytes to battle the heat and keep you hydrated.
Pay attention to your body, learn the signs of heat exhaustion & heat stroke. Take measures AHEAD of time to reduce the dangers.
As always, I thank you & appreciate what you as Professional Drivers do on a daily basis!
KEEP UP THE STRONG WORK!!