Arizona Weather Tips

Safety Measures

• Do not lie and fall asleep under the sun.
• Do not, even for a minute, leave children or pets in your car. Seriously.
• Do not walk in bare feet nor walk your dog after the sun has been heating it up.
• Do not put your pet at the back of your flatbed truck as the floor heats up fast. The pet cannot escape it.
• Do not do strenuous work outside in the heat.
• Try to find covered parking when parking outdoors.
• Do not leave windows tightly shut when parked outside. The heat inside the vehicle rises quickly.
• Do not leave CDs or DVDs on the seat or dash of the car.
• Do not turn off the air conditioner in the house even while you are at work or away, especially if you have pets in the house. Relatively, do not turn the air conditioner on and off frequently.
• Keep a small towel handy so you don't burn yourself when you touch car door handles, dark plastic, metals.
• Do not engage in sports outside without drinking plenty of water constantly.
• Do not forget to check your car battery’s water level often.

Other Helpful Arizona Weather Tips (and some common sense)

• Every spring, have your home and car air conditioning system checked. If it breaks down during summer, it will take days or be hard to call someone to repair it.
• Drinking lots of water wherever you are is essential so you don't become dehydrated, regardless of your activity level.
• Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. When exercising, drink 2-4 glasses per hour. Please, no liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar. These can take your body fluids out. Also, very cold drinks might give you stomach cramps.
• If you sweat heavily, you need to replace the body’s salt and minerals. A sports beverage can help, but not if you’re in a low-salt diet. So, talk to your doctor first. And, if your doctor has limited your fluid intake or has you on water pills, ask how much you can drink during the hot days.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fit clothing if possible when at home. It's a good way to treat heat rash too. If you’ll go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun with a hat, sunglasses, or by putting on a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, or UVA/UVB protection 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it if sun exposure is prolonged.
• A sudden change in temperature, such as when you come from a cool to a hotter climate, can be stressful to your body. Limit your physical activity, working it up gradually, until you become acclimated. If you experience a heart pounding and gasping of breath, STOP all activity. Arizona weather tips suggest that you rest and go to a cool area.
• Restrict your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours, and rest in shady areas to regulate your body's thermostat.
• Always stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home is not equipped with air conditioning (fortunately, all new Arizona homes do now), go to the shopping mall or public library to cool off. Electric fans may provide relief, but not when the Arizona weather temperature is in the high 90s and may cause heat-related illness. Treat heat irritations with a cool shower.
• Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home. (But my wife does cook everyday, and we enjoy it!)
• If you and your co-workers do an outdoor job, monitor each other for any heat-induced illness. Losing consciousness or confusion are symptoms of heat exhaustion.
• People who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness because of the retention of more body heat.
• Hot and heavy meals add heat to your body.
• Do not take salt tablets to retain fluid unless under medical supervision.
• Protect infants and children in light clothing, hats or umbrella. This is a good way to avoid and treat heat rash.
• Do not enjoy sun exposure during mid-day hours in places such as beaches.
• Have plenty of water in a shaded area handy for your pets.

Hope these Arizona weather tips keep you cool and smiling. :-)