Whew! The temperature around the country has been HOT lately, in some places with the heat index it's been in the triple digits. I already posted about when is it too hot to ride but now I want to talk about hydration and heat exhaustion and heat stroke and what to do. Because even being out in the sun relaxing we can become dehydrated and end up putting ourselves in an emergency situation. First, do you know the signs of dehydration? There are 5 signs and they are 1.)feeling thirsty and lightheaded.2.) a dry mouth.3.)tiredness.4.)having dark-colored, strong-smelling urine.5.) passing urine less often than usual. And while water is what we are told to drink plenty of to stay hydrated, I'm here to tell you from personal experience and a trip to the hospital where I learned the hard way, water is not enough. Make sure you are also drinking something that will replace your electrolytes as well, like Gatorade or Propel. This goes for humans and horses. If your horse won't eat the electrolytes in their feed, try putting it in their water or using powdered Gatorade in their water. For emergencies, I keep tubes of electrolyte paste on hand and in my trailer.
So what do we do if someone gets overheated? First, get them into the shade or air conditioning and remove or loosen any clothing that is restrictive. Apply cool clothes to the back of the neck and wrists and give small sips of water or Gatorade. Below I will post a more comprehensive list of what to do.
While summer is fun and a time to enjoy the outdoors, for your and your furry friends' safety take the time to stay cool and hydrated. Enjoy the fun in the sun!
Appy Riding!
Tracy
Yorumlar