Surviving the Heat in the Arizona Desert

The desert is a daunting place. The scorching heat and parched air can cause fatal illnesses such as dehydration, heat stroke and skin cancer. First time visitors to Arizona find themselves constantly craving water, sweating copiously and generally avoiding the outdoors. The triple-digit heat can be daunting, and heat related illnesses may occur if you're not using the proper precautionary measures to avoid them. Heat-stroke is a possibly fatal illness that is caused by the body's inability to cool itself down. This illness may be fatal and requires immediate hospitalization. Some of the symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, and heat rashes. Thankfully, there are many ways to avoid heat-stroke and other heat related illnesses.

One of the most refreshing ways to help survive the desert sun is to wear sun block. A sun protection factor of fifteen is fine, and it is extremely effective at providing ultra-violet protection. The best thing is to wear sun block on any area of the body that is exposed to the sun. It isn't enough just to wear sun block when you are going out into the sun. It is best to carry the lotion with you when you go out so that if you sweat, a very likely experience, you can replenish it. Most sun screen lotions wear away after water is exposed to the skin. You can also purchase a water proof sun screen lotion, but these still need to be replenished after a couple hours to avoid sun burn.

It is also a very good idea to hydrate as much as possible when you are in the sun. When your body sweats it is cooling itself off so it is necessary to drink lots of water so that you can keep yourself cool. Sports drinks are great if you are going to be in the sun a long time -- they work to replenish electrolytes which are necessary to keep the body hydrated. Try to avoid anything that contains caffeine or sugar because they have a tendency to dehydrate the body; while soda, coffee and tea may taste good, they certainly are not healthy during temperature extremes. One of the biggest things to remember is that if you are thirsty your body is already dehydrated, so try to drink liquids prior to outdoor activity.

One of the most uncomfortable things about living in a dry climate is that the skin can become dry and itchy. Dermatologists recommend desert residents apply a moisturizing lotion about three times daily, to avoid dry skin. That doesn't mean that you should pay an exorbitant price for a fancy designer brand skin crème. The less expensive moisturizing lotions work just as good as the designer brands, and they definitely won't break your pocketbook as badly.

It may be difficult for many Arizonans to take the problems that the Arizona sun can cause seriously. Often our lives are filled with the hustle and bustle of work, and family related obligations. But there are times when safety looks us right in the eye screaming for some sort answer. It is those trying, difficult ordeals that safety precautions work to avoid. By using the proper precautionary measures it won't be dangerous to have fun in the sun.