{"id":58838,"date":"2025-07-10T12:30:59","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T19:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/?p=58838"},"modified":"2025-07-10T12:31:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T19:31:04","slug":"keep-your-cool-on-hot-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/keep-your-cool-on-hot-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep Your Cool During the Hot Days of Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article\">\n\t<header class=\"header\">\n\t\t<span class=\"type\"><\/span>\t\t<h1>Keep Your Cool During the Hot Days of Summer<\/h1>\t\t<time>July 10, 2025<\/time>\n\t<\/header>\n\t<div id=\"block_87e414565e8d3de23c94bf815742c72e\" class=\"shs-block block-news-article entry-content\">\n\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p>July and August are typically the hottest months of the year in Oregon, and it is not uncommon for temperatures to reach triple-digits. When it is hot outside, keeping cool is a priority. While heat-related illness is preventable, many people get sick, and even die, from extreme heat each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Causes Us to Overheat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The two main factors affecting your body\u2019s natural ability to cool itself are high humidity \u2013 because your sweat will not evaporate as quickly \u2013 and personal factors such as age, obesity, fever, dehydration and heart disease, to name&nbsp; a few.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People ages 65 and over, children younger than two and people with chronic disease and\/or mental illness are most at risk for heat-related illness. Early signs of dehydration include fatigue, thirst, dry lips and tongue, lack of energy and feeling overheated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Children of all ages are especially susceptible to dehydration and heat-related illness because a child&#8217;s body surface area makes up a much greater proportion of their overall weight&nbsp;compared to&nbsp;an adult. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOften times kids wait until they are thirsty to drink which means they may already be slightly dehydrated,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/patients-visitors\/find-a-doctor\/kramer-nicole-1255058285\/\" data-type=\"provider\" data-id=\"28112\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nicole Kramer, PA-C<\/a>, of <a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/find-a-location\/samaritan-walk-in-clinic-geary-st\/\" data-type=\"location\" data-id=\"5354\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Samaritan Walk-In Clinic \u2013 Geary St.<\/a> \u201cAlternatively, we should encourage cold water early on and then steadily throughout the day to <a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/dehydration-danger-and-symptoms-summer-in-oregon\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stay hydrated<\/a> and prevent heat-related illnesses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is important for people of all ages to watch for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke (which can be fatal if left untreated), including dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, weakness, muscle pain, a temperature of 104 degrees&nbsp;or greater, lack of sweating, rapid breathing and heartbeat, confusion or unconsciousness. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips to Stay Cool<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most\u00a0heat stroke deaths are accidental and preventable. To keep your cool and stay healthy during the hottest days of summer, the Centers for Disease Control &amp; Prevention recommends the following for people of all ages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible during hot weather. If your home is not air-conditioned, you can reduce your risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned and using air conditioning in vehicles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whenever possible, do not rely only on a fan as your primary cooling device during an extreme heat event.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drink more water than usual and don\u2019t wait until you\u2019re thirsty to drink.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take cool showers or baths to cool down.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t use the stove or oven to cook\u2014it will make you and your house hotter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NEVER leave children or pets in cars &#8211; not even for a few seconds or minutes. Get in the habit of always opening the back door to check the back seat before leaving your vehicle to make sure no child or pet has been left behind.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seek medical care immediately if you or loved one has symptoms of heat-related illness, such as a body temperature of 104 degrees or higher; hot, red, dry or damp skin; fast strong pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion or loss of consciousness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep Your Cool While Working Outdoors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Occupational Health &amp; Safety Administration also offers these important recommendations to prevent heat illness for those who work outside in the heat:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hydrate before, during and after work. Drink one cup of cool water every 20 minutes, even if you aren\u2019t thirsty. For longer jobs, drinks with electrolytes are best. Avoid energy drinks and alcohol.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Find shade or a cool area for rest breaks that allow your body to recover.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dress for the heat. A hat and light-colored, loose-fitting, breathable clothing are ideal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If wearing a face covering, change it if it becomes wet or soiled. Check on others verbally often.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Not everyone tolerates heat the same way. Understand personal risk factors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe must also remember that each person responds and tolerates heat differently,\u201d said Kramer. \u201cThus, it is also important that we are checking in on friends and neighbors just as someone would do for us. That way we can enjoy the warm summer months in Oregon, while staying cool!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Learn more about&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/vsearch.nlm.nih.gov\/vivisimo\/cgi-bin\/query-meta?v%3Aproject=medlineplus&amp;v%3Asources=medlineplus-bundle&amp;query=dehydration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dehydration<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/vsearch.nlm.nih.gov\/vivisimo\/cgi-bin\/query-meta?v%3Aproject=medlineplus&amp;v%3Asources=medlineplus-bundle&amp;query=heat+stroke\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">heat stroke<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<aside>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/girls-playing-in-water-CO.jpg\" class=\"attachment-cta size-cta wp-post-image\" alt=\"Keep your cool on hot days of summer. Three girls playing in the water by a dock in a lake.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/girls-playing-in-water-CO.jpg 360w, https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/girls-playing-in-water-CO-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/girls-playing-in-water-CO-120x100.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/figure><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/water-in-a-glass-CO.jpg\" class=\"attachment-cta size-cta\" alt=\"Water can help you keep your cool. A glass with water being poured in front of a cool blue-green background.\" \/><figcaption>When temperatures spikes, we sweat more, even at the pool or the beach. Always carry water with you to drink throughout the day to replenish lost fluids.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\t\t<\/aside>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n\n<section id=\"block_d98619beffa48e0108e4c76662ef4647\" class=\"shs-block callouts is-arches grid-container has-blue-light-background-color\" >\n\n\n\t<h2 class=\"callouts-title\">Six Recipes to Keep Your Cool This Summer<\/h2>\n\t<\/header>\n\t\t<ul class=\"callouts-list\">\n\t\n\t\t<li class=\"callout is-arches\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/healthy-summer-treats-you-can-make-yourself\/\" class=\"callout-link\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/infused-water-325-CO.jpg\" alt=\"Mason jar of water with blueberries, rosemary sprigs and lime.\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"callout-arch-overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"callout-link-text\">Make a Refreshing Summer Treat<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"callout is-arches\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/grilled-peaches\/\" class=\"callout-link\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Grilledpeaches1280x720-360x300.jpg\" alt=\"Grilled half peaches on a grill\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"callout-arch-overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"callout-link-text\">Grill Some Peaches<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"callout is-arches\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/refreshing-lemon-blueberry-sorbet\/\" class=\"callout-link\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/blueberry-sorbet-REC2-360x300.jpg\" alt=\"Four scoops of blueberry sorbet in a clear glass bowl.\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"callout-arch-overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"callout-link-text\">Try Lemon Blueberry Sorbet<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"callout is-arches\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/watermelon-basil-salad\/\" class=\"callout-link\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Watermelonbasilsalad580x483-360x300.jpg\" alt=\"watermelon and basil in a small white bowl\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"callout-arch-overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"callout-link-text\">Enjoy a Watermelon Basil Salad<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"callout is-arches\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/red-white-blue-mocktail-recipe\/\" class=\"callout-link\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/red-white-blue-mocktail-CO.jpg\" alt=\"Red, white and blue mocktail with dish of blueberries\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"callout-arch-overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"callout-link-text\">Have a Red, White &amp; Blue Mocktail<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"callout is-arches\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/news\/orange-banana-smoothie-popsicle-recipe\/\" class=\"callout-link\" target=\"_self\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/smoothie-popsicles-325-CO.jpg\" alt=\"Orange-banana smoothie popsicles\" width=\"360\" height=\"300\" loading=\"lazy\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"callout-arch-overlay\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"callout-link-text\">Make Popsicle Smoothies<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it is hot outside it&#8217;s important to keep your cool whether recreating, working or simply enjoying summer sunshine. Get tips for staying cool and find our favorite recipes for weathering this time of year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":59098,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_shs_workflow_notes":"","_shs_exclude_from_navigation":false,"_shs_promote_article_on_blogs":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"news-topics":[290,293],"news-types":[270],"services":[238,245,255],"specialty":[],"class_list":["post-58838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","news-topics-senior-health","news-topics-wellness","news-types-feature-article","services-family-medicine","services-internal-medicine","services-pediatrics"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58838"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58838\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/59098"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58838"},{"taxonomy":"news-topics","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-topics?post=58838"},{"taxonomy":"news-types","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-types?post=58838"},{"taxonomy":"services","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/services?post=58838"},{"taxonomy":"specialty","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samhealth.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/specialty?post=58838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}