Know when to Swing & when to get out of the heat!

You sure can tell it is summer time in North Carolina, huh? It has been dangerously hot as of late! While it is great that the courses are in great shape and it stays lighter longer, you have to be careful out in the sun while playing a round. Here are some tips to avoid heat stroke or heat exhaustion.

1) Of course, drink lots of beverages. This means water and Gatorade, not alcohol!   Don’t wait until you are thirsty to get hydrated. Drink water before the round and at a good pace all day to keep your body temperature normal.
2) Eat fruit to get energy. Things like Bananas and apples are easy to carry in your golf bag and will give you long lasting energy while you golf.
3) Tip your hat! While hats can shade you, they can also make you hotter. Most of our heat comes off your head, so by taking your hat off, you actually can become cooler.
4) Wet Towels: Every time you pass a water cooler, dampen several towels so you can wrap around your neck or cool off your face.

Make sure you know the symptoms of heat exhaustion or even worse, heat stroke! Nausea, dizziness, headaches are common. Other warning signs are if your skin becomes pale even in the sun or muscles start to cramp up. If you experience any of these signs during your round, get inside immediately, drink lots of fluids and eat salty foods.
Heat stroke is much more serious. Symptoms of heat stroke include hot, dry skin with a grayish tint. Anyone suffering from heat stroke must be treated quickly. Immerse the victim in a cool water or ice bath and call 911 immediately.

Have fun and be safe…and enjoy the summer swings!