Sun tans in Buffalo?!

An amazing sun umbrella I found!
 It can tell the time!!
Planetary Parasol Designed by Kota Nezu, Photo courtesy of  ispyce.com

As our festival season pushes forward and we continue to try to get the most out of the sunshine and snow free sidewalks and grass as possible, the temperature and humidity just don’t seem to want to give us a break!  But heat and humidity aren’t enough to keep us indoors here at the Red Cross! We embrace summer and all of its quirky temperature spikes and never ending humidity, and we do it safely, thanks to Dr. David Markenson, chair of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council.  He’s given us some quick and easy tips to make sure that we all stay safe this summer!   

•          Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day – even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol- they dehydrate the body!
•          Dress for the heat. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing in layers and avoid dark colors that absorb the sun’s rays
•          If you must work outdoors, take frequent breaks to hydrate and cool yourself. Avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day
•          Protect yourself from sun exposure even on cloudy or hazy days. In addition to dressing for heat, apply a broad-spectrum (protection against both UVA and UVB rays) sunscreen and reapply as indicated, wear eye protection (wraparound sunglasses that provide 100 percent UV ray protection) and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
•          Never leave a child or pet in a parked car – even for a few minutes. The inside temperature of a car can quickly reach 120 degrees
•          Be a good neighbor. Check in on the elderly, young children and pets to make sure they are not suffering from the heat.

With these tips in mind, everyone can safely go outside without the fear of dehydration, heat stroke, and/or sunburn which means nothing will be slowing you down from making the most out of your summer!

Additional heat safety tips are available at www.redcross.org.

Learn how to prevent and treat heat-related illnesses by attending a Red Cross First Aid course. Visit www.redcross.org/training to learn more.