Hike hiking: How to avoid heat creation

Hike hiking: How to avoid heat creation

hot hiking can be as dangerous as a trip in stormy weather. Here we share important information about how to recognize, treat and avoid heat creation

On the slopes of the Mount Matavanu crater, I almost started crying from exhaustion. We approached the end of a six -hour hike in scorching heat, a performance that we had unfortunately tried with only one liter of water.

After potentially risky undertakings such as trekking on an active volcano and the first diving, we were satisfied with a day hike because we had not taken into account the relentless sun of Samoa. In the end we were completely exhausted and completely beaten. We swore to never go on a hot hike again without adequate preparation.

To help others, we have put together a guide on how to recognize, treat and avoid heat creation when hiking in the heat.

recognize heat creation

First of all, it is important to distinguish between heat creation and heat stroke. If your body gets very hot and starts to lose water or salt.

heating is if your body can no longer cool down and its temperature becomes dangerously high (104 ° f / 40 ° C or higher). It can be called "sunstroke" if the symptoms are caused by longer sunlight.

A heat stroke is less common, but more serious and can burden your vital organs. It is important to be able to recognize both conditions, especially since an heat stroke can lead to a heat stroke untreated.

Symptoms of heat creation

• strong thirst
• feel weak and tired
• Fotter or dizziness
• throbbing headache
• nausea and vomiting
• muscle cramps
• strong sweating
• reddled skin
• Fast heartbeat
• less frequently urinating and have much darker urine than usual

Symptoms of a heat stroke

• confusion
• disorientation
• seizure
• loss of consciousness

alt = “It is important to know how to recognize heat creation"> Dziajda/Shutterstock It is important to know how to recognize heat creation

treat heat creation

They rest in a cool place: Find shadows and rest for at least 30 minutes. Lie down if possible. If your symptoms are serious, you should wait for the sun to stand deeper in the sky before resuming the activity. Of course, you should provide enough daylight to be able to end the hike safely.

Remove excess clothing: pull out tight or heavy clothing so that the air can circulate around your body.

cool your skin: Use a damp buff or cloth or cool pack to cool your neck and armpits. Put on your skin as it is wet to cool it down.

rehydrating: drink a lot of water, fruit juice or a rehydration drink if available. This will replenish lost water and salt.

know when you have to call for help: If you feel confused or disoriented, call a doctor. If the person with whom you wander is passed out, follow the above steps and bring the person to the stable side position until help arrives. If you have a seizure, remove all the stones or objects near you to avoid injuries.

Avoid heat creation

acclimatization: If you walk away from home at higher temperatures than usual, it will take some time to get used to the heat. Wait at least a few days before trying a strong activity, especially a long or strenuous hike.

Pay attention to heat wave warnings: Be sure to read the weather forecast for the day (e) of your hike. In countries with apparently endlessly good weather, this is easy to ignore, but heat waves can be as dangerous as storms, so they are not complacent.

alt = "avoid heat creation"> Atlas & Boots kia while hiking in the Atacama desert, the driest place on earth

Avoid sunburn: sunburn reduces your body's ability to free yourself from heat. Therefore, make sure that you apply sunscreen with at least SPF 15 during your hike. Smartsun UV wristbands are a good way to monitor the new application again. Also wear a hat, sunglasses and a buff to protect yourself from the sun.

Wear light clothing: loose, light and light clothing is best suited for hot hikes. They reflect heat, let air circulate and enable welding evaporation. Avoid tight, heavy and dark clothes because you do exactly the opposite!

Drink a lot of water: there are many discussions about the “right” amount of water that you should drink in the heat when hiking. Some experts say that they should drink more than they need, while others say they should only drink if they are thirsty.

A good rule of thumb is to take care of drinking at least three liters of water during the day; Four when the hike is exhausting. Drink 750 ml two hours in advance and another 250 ml at the beginning.

Drink the rest of the day at regular intervals. It is a good idea to replace part of your water absorption with an electrolyte -rich sports drink. In addition to the water level, this also regulates the salt content.

Cover the basics: Whether hot hiking, night hiking or endurance hiking, they absolutely pack the "10 essential systems". This equipment list has been developed by experts over the years and will help you stay safe if your plans go wrong.

good luck!

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Pack a camelbak so that you have water quickly enough to stay hydrated on long hikes and trekking tours.

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