How to beat the heat and have a safe summer?

Manama: It’s that time of the year again where the heat is unbearable and going outside without your shades and sunscreen is a disaster. Taking the right precautions is a must during this season, so DT News looked upon the most common problems that occur during summer.

The main cause of concern is, of course, dehydration. The severe case of dehydration leads to heat stroke. A person may pass out, have hallucinations or even get seizures. Preventing it couldn’t be easier though; just drink plenty of water, take regular breaks from the sun and keep aside your vigorous outdoor activities for a time when the sunlight isn’t the harshest.

Regarding the precautions taken by the public, DT News took up opinions of a few:

“The heat during this scorching summer is really terrible, so I make sure not to be out during the 12-3pm hours as it’s the peak time of the day when the sun rays are most dangerous. I always apply sunscreen before I leave the house to avoid getting tanned and make sure to carry a bottle of water in order to avoid dehydration,” explained Sandra Raj, a student.

Another student, Terin Raj, said that the most affected are the site workers and manual labourers. “Along with the harsh physical labour, the intense heat makes it an incredibly tough time for them to work and as it is the Holy Month of Ramadan. These category of people should take special care and watch out for their health,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jessy Jacob, a parent pointed out that summer time is the most dangerous for children. “Kids cannot be stopped from playing outside and with the schools closed, they are more likely to spend time outside. Parents should make sure that children have a bottle of water with them and avoid sending them out when the sun shines the brightest.”

DT News also received an expert advice from Dr. Lovely Rajesh, who teaches Biology at Indian School Bahrain.

“Exposure to sun can lead to dehydration. Heat stroke resulted from dehydration occurs due to depletion of essential electrolytes and nutrients from the body. It can even result in death, if the body is not regularly rehydrated. I think the WHO agrees that labourers should not work outside when the temperature is above 45 degree Celsius,” said Dr. Rajesh.

“The summer heat can cause indigestion, vomiting, diarrhoea, heat stroke, dehydration etc. Summer is also known as kidney stone season and for the right reasons too. Try to intake a lot of fluids to replace the water lost by sweating. Including raw vegetables and fruits in your diet is also beneficial. Avoid spicy and oily food,” added the ISB teacher.

Sunburns are another cause for concern. Your risk of having melanoma doubles, if you have had sunburns more than five times, so do not forget your sunscreen at any chance! Skin cancer is not something we want to add to our list of things to worry about.

Drink plenty of fluids – this should be your mantra for the summer season. Soak your burns in cool water; take antibiotics ointments or Aloe Vera cream to help with the burn and itch.

Staying out of the beaches and pools would be a hard task for most of us during the summer. If you face irritation or inflammation after your swim, you’ve most likely received swimmer’s ear. Visit the doctor immediately and avoid trying to self-treat or poking your ear canals unnecessarily!

It is also the time of food-poisoning as well and people mostly don’t even realise it. Pathogens such as salmonella, shigella, campylobacter, E. coli and listeria are uninvited guests at summer get-togethers. Depending on the micro-organism, they can cause symptoms like fever, chills, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, bloody stools, nausea, vomiting and dizziness, hours or days after exposure. Serious cases can even lead to death. Learn how to combat these problems by practising safe eating habits and you should be fine. 

Eye damage is another risk that should be taken care of. Sunlight, including light bouncing off water, sand and concrete, can burn your corneas, a painful condition known as photokeratitis. Over time, exposure to UV can age your eyes’ lenses, leading to cataracts, macular degeneration and other vision problems. Hats and sunglasses are the simple solution to this one.

There you have got some simple suggestions to have a healthy summer. But the heat shouldn’t stop you from having fun! As long as the right precautions are taken, why hide from the sun?