How To Stay Safe While Traveling During Another Record-Breaking Hot Summer
This summer is set to break records yet again when it comes to extremely high temperatures. During peak travel season, experts are giving their best advice on how to stay safe and ensure travelers still enjoy their much deserved vacations.
A developing El Nino event could cause temperatures to continue to rise this summer, later in the year, and next summer as well. Life-threatening heat exhaustion and stroke are some of the biggest concerns for travelers.
Dr. Alexander Azan, who co-directs the Project HEATWAVE initiative, discussed how travelers can take precautions to ensure they get the best out of their vacations while staying safe.
“The same way that we prepare for more extreme travel in the cold, we should start to consider those tips to keep us safe in the summer months.”
Azan continued to advise that before you leave for your trip, check the air temperatures for both day and night, as well as the heat index as that takes humidity into account.
It’s important to remain flexible when it comes to your schedule as well. When the temperatures do get to that higher level, prioritize spending time in cooler areas along the coast or at higher elevations depending on where you are. Any strenuous outdoor activities like hiking or walking tours should be scheduled for early morning or late evening hours while indoor activities should be planned for the middle of the day.
Where you stay is always an integral part of any good trip, so for the hot summer months be sure to find a spot with reliable conditioning and research the area to see if they often get weather that could cause a power outage. If you’re traveling to a country you’ve never been before, research important facilities such as hospitals as well.
Ashley Ward, the director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke University, advises that if you’re someone who has a medical condition or takes medication, be sure to stay extra vigilant in terms of preparing your body, as it could be even more vulnerable to the heat during your travels.
“A lot of the prescription drugs that we take for common conditions like high blood pressure, anxiety, depression, they actually interrupt our body’s ability to thermoregulate,” she said.
She also emphasized that older adults, pregnant individuals, young children, and infants are also vulnerable, so plan with your body in mind.
Adithi Ramakrishnan and Aya Diab of AP recommend packing a reusable water bottle, light/breathable clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, cooling towel, and portable fan as some essentials to keep on your list as well.
For those opting for a summer road trip, ensure that you get your vehicle inspected a few weeks beforehand to make sure everything is in good condition and your engine’s cooling system is in top tier shape. Keep your car cool by parking in shaded areas and take plenty of breaks to stretch, hydrate, and eat to keep energy levels up.
AAA senior automotive manager David Bennett also highly recommends never driving on less than a quarter tank of gas to ensure there’s no chane of you getting stuck in the heat in an unknown area.
It’s important to also be educated on the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke so if the worst does happen, you can recognize it early and get help quicker. Spending long periods of time outdoors while participating in intense activities or consuming heavy amounts of alcohol can increase the risk as well, so be diligent.
“People often get into trouble when they ignore both environmental conditions and the warning signals their bodies are giving them. They think they can push through. That is a mistake,” Ward said.
Dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, excessive sweating with cool and clammy skin are all signs to be on the look out for. If symptoms worsen and turn into slurred speech, passing out, confusion, or feeling hot to the touch, seek help immediately as it could be a sign of heat stroke.
The most important thing that you can do as a traveler during extreme heat events is to listen to your body and remain as hydrated as possible.
Eric Mastrota is a Contributing Editor at The National Digest based in New York. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz, he reports on world news, culture, and lifestyle. You can reach him at eric.mastrota@thenationaldigest.com.











