Pull up your boots and set off for a camping trip on a sunny day. However, severe heat may also come along with the sun, and if you don’t take adequate precautions, your enjoyable day might suddenly become painful and even hazardous. Nothing is worse than getting sick while on a trip you had planned for a long time.
Fortunately, heat stroke may be minimized, and if it does happen, knowing how to identify and treat it can allow you to keep enjoying your trip. You have a lot of techniques for keeping cool and maximizing your camping trip. Here are some helpful tips to avoid heatstroke, sunburn, and those pesky summertime pests.
Tips to stay cool while camping
Select a cool tent
There are certain tents available that are quite cool, but many of them won’t keep the heat out when the temperature begins to rise. Choose a tent that is light in color if you’re buying one specifically for camping in hot weather because it will reflect the heat better than a dark tent. And for the best airflow, choose a lightweight, double-walled tent with a mesh interior.
Pitch your tent in the shade
Look at the sun’s position and find a location that will offer the most shade during the warmest parts of the day before you decide where to set up your tent. It won’t matter much if you receive a little evening sun because the temperature will already be slightly lower. However, your campsite should be in the morning and afternoon shade wherever feasible.
Camp near water
Go for a hike where you can have the cool lake or ocean breeze if there isn’t much shade, but you’re close to the seaside or a sizable lake. As the water evaporates while you hike next to a river, you can frequently dip your hat, shirt, or bandana and drape them over your body to keep cool. The best way to enjoy camping in hot weather is to have access to a river or lake that you can dip in and out of whenever necessary.
Drink Plenty of Water
One of the most crucial things you should do to stay cool while camping in extremely hot weather is to stay hydrated. The water lost by sweating must be replaced by drinking more water. Hikers should bring at least a gallon of water with them while camping. Put water in an insulated container to keep it very cold; this will urge you to consume more of it.Consume high-protein snacks
In the absence of food or additional energy, the body finds it difficult to absorb water. Therefore, it is crucial to have high-protein snacks on a hike, especially when it’s hot outside. Protein shakes, dried fruit, jerky, and almonds should all be effective.
KEEP YOUR TENT COOL
Make shade your priority while choosing a campsite. Use the tent’s rainfly only if it is going to rain. Leaving the mesh portion exposed might be very beneficial to improve airflow. Bring a tiny, battery-operated fan with you as another option for cooling your tent. Even a little fan can make a significant difference when attempting to sleep at night in a hot tent.
Dress loose, light-colored attire
Even in the best circumstances, wearing restrictive or tight clothing can be annoying. It can become dreadfully unpleasant when the temperature is raised. Instead of wearing stiff jeans with tight belts, go for loose pants, skirts, and shirts to allow air to circulate inside your clothing.
Avoid wearing dark clothing because it will absorb the sun’s heat and make you feel hotter. Choose light-colored clothing instead since it does better to deflect heat away from your already hot body. Even though wearing a hat can make you feel hot and sticky, doing so is an excellent way to protect yourself from heat stroke.
BRING THE BALMS
There are several balms you’ll need when camping in hot weather. You’ll need lip balm. People occasionally overlook that their lips are susceptible to sunburn and chapping just like any other part of their bodies.
Next, you should use sunscreen. In addition to damaging your skin, sunburn can be extremely uncomfortable and result in heat stroke. Also, bring bug repellent with you. If you are sensitive to attracting mosquitoes or other biting insects, an enjoyable hike in a stunning location might rapidly turn into an unpleasant experience.
Avoid Sun Exposure
Heat exhaustion can be prevented by covering yourself from the sun, remaining in the shade, using a wide-brimmed hat, and applying sunscreen frequently. It is significantly more difficult for the body to maintain cool once the skin has become burnt.Move at the cool time
Get up before the sun rises to avoid that awful heat fear as your alarm clock. You may enjoy the wilderness during the calmest and most peaceful time of the day. Later in the afternoon, if you need to catch up on sleep, you can always take a nap on your hammock. So, when it’s time to start exploring again at dusk, you’ll have plenty of energy.
Heat Stroke Signs
The tips above keep you cool even in the warmest weather and are essential to avoiding heat stroke when capping. But since plans don’t always work out, it’s crucial to be ready to see the early signs of heat stroke if you go camping in really hot weather. Take a close look at these symptoms:
Feeling dizzy or faint
Decrease blood pressure
Feeling sick
Muscle spasms
Sweating excessively
Extreme thirst
Fast heartbeat
Throbbing headache
Nausea and vomiting
Anxiety
Treatment for heat stroke:
It’s necessary to calm down a person swiftly if they exhibit any of the symptoms mentioned above.
Cool down: Rapid cooling is required for someone suffering from heat stroke. Place the person in the shade, let him take off any extra clothing, and cool them off with fans and cool water. If there’s a lake or stream nearby, try to put the person down there while being careful to keep their airway open.
Hydrate: Get the person to drink water as much as possible.
Evacuate: Get the person out as quickly as possible and go to the hospital for additional evaluation because heat stroke can harm internal organs.