
Of course I'll be out at the pool teaching during the worst of it almost every day. I'm doing my level best to not get so dark this year but I'm already quite the brown berry right now. I wear a wet shirt out there and I put sunscreen on my face before going out there but it doesn't keep me from gaining a boatload of color.
People laugh at me when I tell them how dark I can get. They just don't believe it until they see me at the end of the summer. Now, don't get me wrong here, I'm not ashamed of being dark, it's just crazy and not so good for my skin. I'm no spring chicken anymore ya know. I am lucky to have olive skin so I really don't burn but it still isn't good for ya, ya know.
It gets so hot here in Tucson that you actually see those air waves when you go outside. I thought that that was just what happened to film or a photo effect but nope, it's for real.
I also see a lot of people suffering from de-hydration this time of the year. Trust me, if you've never seen a person go into de-hydration, you don't want to. It's scarey. For both of you. Luckily, it's an easy fix but you have to re-hydrate slowly. I have seen it happen once and I don't wish it on anyone, ever.
The body begins to shut down all non-essential body parts, such as the limbs, to keep blood & oxygen going to the brain and you go into a full body cramp. If you've had a cramp you know how painful that is. Now imagine your whole body in 1. It's terrifying.
Some of the symptoms of de-hydration include nausea, sweating, dizzyness/light-headedness, minimal urine output, rapid breathing, cool extremities, dry mouth, fatigue, urine turns a dark yellow, can seem to be delirious or become unconscious, muscle cramps, constipation (Yikes!), skin elasticity loss, lack of tears along with dry mucous membranes, you feel "parched."
However, the last one the feeling of being parched will, typically, mean that you're already in de-hydration.
Some of those aforementioned symptoms may be caused by other issues as well but if any of these are left without some sort of attention, it could lead to heat stroke and death so pay attention to your body.
Stay hydrated! We've all heard that we should ingest 8 glasses of 8oz. of water each and every day. BUT, if you exercise or do manual type labor, you need to increase that consumption. If you exercise over 60 minutes, you should consume 7-10 oz. of water every 10-20 minutes of exercise.
I keep saying water, yes, because its the best to replenish your bodys' supply. We're not made of sports drink, coffee or soda but are made up of about 70% WATER!
Now, don't get me wrong, I do drink coffee, I do drink lemonade, I do drink an occasional soda but what we really need is water.
Don't forget your animals here either. They don't have the ability to sweat as we humans do and need to have plenty of fresh water at the ready for them to lap up. I have 3 bowls for them. 2 inside and 1 outside. And... please ... don't leave them or your kids locked up in the car.
Stay well, well hydrated and healthy, keep dancing.
Peace