Camping in Heat

Last week we had an unusual heat wave in Ontario. People in the cities suffered and stayed indoors close to their air-conditioners.

But I was lucky to be camping and able to go outside and enjoy the beach.

Heat brings special risks to the camping crowd. Although generally it is easier to cool off when you are outside in the shaded area, special precautions are necessary.

Young kids are especially vulnerable to heat related illness. When they play in high heat and humidity or having a mid-day nap in an over-heated tent they may suffer from heat exhaustion or even a heat stroke. Never leave them in a parked car! Temperature in the car may raise sharply. Same goes for little campers/trailers without sufficient ventilation.

It is better to take necessary precautions to avoid heat illness:

1. Wear loose, light-coloured and light-weight clothing

2. Stay in the shade

3. Wear a sun hat

4. Keep hydrated: drink more than usual, even if not thirsty. Lack of thirst may be one of the signs of overheating.

5. Take a cool shower or go for a dip in a lake/river/ocean

6. Keep an eye on your kids to see if they behave normally. Heavy sweating, thirst, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, weak pulse, rapid breathing, blurred vision are all signs of heat exhaustion. Move them to a cool area and give cool, salted water to drink. Mist them with cool water.

Symptoms of a heat stroke are more severe: hot, dry, red skin, headache, nausea, confusion, fast pulse, high fever, odd behaviour and even loss of consciousness and convulsions. This is the time to seek medical attention, but in the meantime you can start cooling the person by fanning or spraying with cool water. Give sips of cool water to drink.

In any case do not throw anybody into cold water as it may cause a shock and restrict blood flow.