This is your brain.
This is your brain with heat exhaustion.
This is me about 3 hours ago.
Yep, first really hot day, and a long list of stuff to do in the garden.
Up at 7, out in the yard (80 degrees already), first I re-stain the greenhouse (to protect it from further damage from our hot Southern sun -ironic, no?), then mow the lawn, then work with the rain barrels (emptying and shifting one barrel so it drains properly into the overflow barrels), then load and haul the trash, then home and sit in the swing (in the sun, no less), then replace winter door on greenhouse with the screen door, water the broccoli (which, at this point is smarter than I am, since it's in the shade).
At this point, I go and take a shower and think about making dinner. Except, my body has other plans - I start shaking, my vision gets sparkly, I'm dizzy and weak, have a massive headache, break out into cold sweat, and can't catch my breath.
This would be a demonstration of heat exhaustion, the forerunner to heatstroke. Totally brought on by myself and totally preventable. Apparently I need to be reminded of this every couple of years.
After drinking water, and sleeping it off for 3 hours, I'm fine. I'll need to take it easy tomorrow (which shouldn't be a problem, since I insisted on doing everything today).
You should be fine too, since I've now reminded you this can happen and you won't overdo it, will you?
Symptoms of heat exhaustion:
- heavy sweating
- paleness
- muscle cramps
- tiredness
- weakness
- headache
- nausea
- fainting
- dizziness
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Had a similar weekend here. We were out working with recently delivered mulch; working hard trying to get it spread - never realized it was supposed to be (and would be) so hot that day.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you recovered. :)