With temperatures reaching triple digits in North Carolina, lifeguards are working to keep everyone safe at community pools. While pool-goers enjoy the relief of dipping in the pool, lifeguards are taking extra steps to stay cool in the extreme heat.
Staying Hydrated
According to the CDC, staying hydrated is the most important way to stay cool and regulate body temperature. Experts say you can lose as much as a gallon of water during a hot day. Water acts as power for your body’s natural cooling system, allowing the heat from inside your body to be released as sweat, and helps carry heat from your organs to your skin to be released into the air.
Taking breaks from the heat is also very important. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates that employers provide cool water and rest for those working in the heat. In general, outside workers should take hourly breaks, and they should last long enough for the worker to recover from the heat.
A heat advisory is in effect, and heat exhaustion is common during high temperatures. It is crucial for lifeguards to know their limits, and when they are feeling overheated, it is best to seek a cool, air-conditioned space for relief.
Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.
