VRE Offers Heat Beating Tips for Commuters

Tips from from the Virginia Railway Express:

1) Cool and plentiful water really is your best friend during the dog days of summer. Be sure to bring along a water bottle, and consider toting it in a small, insulated bag to keep it cool. And remember, drink the water even if you don't feel thirsty, because thirst kicks in only when one percent to two percent of body weight is already lost. Remember too that caffeine and alcoholic beverages will dehydrate you rather than hydrate you!

2) Look into buying small, battery operated hand-held fans and misters sold in many drugstores and online to give yourself a cooling break. Or, carry along a washcloth so that you can wet it with your water bottle and pat your wrists, face and the back of your neck for a quick cool down.

3) Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing.

4) Ditch jackets and pants with linings for the summer, as the lining can trap heat in hot weather.

5) Seek shade, even if it means carrying a light umbrella or parasol to help ward off the worst of the sun's rays. Wear a hat with a wide brim.

6) Don't avoid the outdoors completely: going outdoors regularly can help build up your heat tolerance. Did you know that to prepare for summer athletics, it takes 10 to 14 days of regular exercise in the heat, slowly building up to intense workouts at the hottest times of the day, before an athlete can safely (and comfortably) work out in the heat? The same basic notion applies to just being out in the heat; if you're not used to it, you're more at risk for heat-related illness. If you still get overheated,