Up until now, I’ve been sunburned only once in my life — after sitting in the Mediterranean sun for hours the day after our arrival on the Costa del Sol.
That happened when I was 14.
Now fast forward 34 years.
What with a huge landscape project underway, trying to get the house and garden ready for our annual Canada Day Eve block party and a planned family visit, I pulled a really stupid move last week.
With temperatures soaring to 100F and not a cloud in the sky, I spent hour after hour over the course of a few days working in the garden wearing only shorts and a bikini top.
No hat, no sunblock and much to my surprise, not only was my back deep-fried, I had a case of heat exhaustion that lasted for 4 days.
Let me tell you, it’s not fun.
According to MedicineNet, “heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment“.
The symptons include:
- heavy sweating
- paleness
- muscle cramps
- tiredness
- weakness
- dizziness
- headache
- nausea or vomiting
- fainting
I fortunately was spared the fainting, nausea and vomiting; but got the rest in spades. Luckily, we have a pool in which I took regular cool dips and air conditioning, which of which are part of the recommended treatment.
Do yourself a favor and spare yourself the pain of it all… sunburn and/or heat exhaustion. Wear a hat, a Coolibar UPF 50+ Women’s Travel Shirt – Sun Protection
Might I just add, drink plenty of fluids, water is most important when working out in the hot sun you need to replace all those fluids that you lose when your body is trying to keep you cool.
Try working during the early morning, take a long break during the middle of the day and resume in the late aftermoon or in the evenings. A really bad case of heat exhaustion can take years to get over!
Hi Roz,
a few years ago i was helping my son with a yard sale.I was in the shade of a big tree but still got a bad sunburn.Even my eyes were affected.I was about 64 then and had to go to the doctor.I couldn’t see to do my job which was running newspapers with 4 color on the front page.I was sick about a week.The article you wrote is right.Really good advice.
I ran into heat exhaustion hiking in the Cohutta Wilderness in Georgia in mid-August. I was making a big loop (hiking solo, which is never a good idea), and the trail out was called Tear Britches (for a reason – it was constant climbing for about 4 miles).
I ran out of water within the first mile. There was a creek at the start of the trail, where I could have filled my canteen, but I didn’t have iodine tablets for purifying, so decided not to. Another mistake.
By the time I reached the national forest road I had several symptoms of heat exhaustion, like tiredness, nausea, and headaches. I still had to walk another 3 miles or so to my car. I remember reaching the car, barely able to stand, and started driving back to civilization. Didn’t have anything to drink in the car.
When I reached the first little town I stopped an bought an Orange Crush. But just as I got to the outskirts of town, the muscle cramps hit. I pulled to the shoulder, staggered out, and collapsed on the grass. All drawn up with these painful cramps. And nobody stopped to see about the poor guy dying on the side of the road!!!
The cramps finally ease enough for me to drive the 60 miles home, but I was wasted for about 4 days or so.
Wish I’d had a hat and a lot bigger canteen at the least!
Hi Rick,
Thanks so very much for sharing your hiking / heat exhaustion story. Those are the best — the ones where you make a series of terrible mistakes but live to tell the tale and share it with others. I have more than a few of those myself… and gave up hiking alone (for the most part) about a decade ago. Now I make sure I go with someone who runs slower than I… you know, in case of bears. 🙂
Happy Hiking!
Ros
Hi Rick,
Thanks for sharing your Heat/ exhaustion story. even though I am not much of an hiker I do go for long walks. To be forewarned is to be fore-armed.
Petrona
I know someone who hiked in Arizona and died from heat exhaustion. Nothing to mess around with.