jerrybellune@yahoo.com

Fort Jackson in summer may not be the hottest place in the country.

If you’re in infantry training there, you’ll swear it’s hotter than Death Valley.

I had the bad judgment to enter the US Army in the hottest months of the year.

You would think a college boy would have been smart enough to wait till January.

Living in Lexington County, hot weather comes as no surprise to you. But you have the benefit of modern air conditioning.

The only air conditioning we had at Fort Jackson years ago was to take off your fatigue jacket and find a spot in the shade.

It was tougher on the recruits from the northeast and upper midwest.

They were unaware that August starts here in May and runs to Christmas.

Summer heat isn’t going to stop many of us from being outdoors, boating, fishing, water skiing, gardening or just taking a walk.

But when you’ve romped outdoors with your kids all day and your water bottle has run dry, you’re in danger of dehydration.

Suddenly you or one of your kids may feel dizzy and light headed and your mouth tastes like it’s been filled with cotton.

When you’re dehydrated, you haven’t taken enough fluid to replace what you’ve been sweating out.

We can become dehydrated any time of year but the greater danger is now.

Heatstroke is the most severe form of dehydration.

Your internal temperature rises to dangerously high levels, your skin is cooked and you stop sweating.

With heatstroke, you may pass out, have hallucinations or suffer a seizure.

Preventing dehydration and heatstroke is easy.

Just drink plenty of fluids, especially water, take regular breaks in the shade, and try to schedule your most vigorous outdoor activities for cooler early morning or late afternoon.

Your neighbors will have to forgive you for firing up your power mower at 7 am on Saturdays. If they’re smart, they’ll do it, too.

If a friend or family member shows symptoms of serious dehydration or heatstroke, get them indoors, have them lie down, and cool them off with ice packs and cool cloths.

If they are seriously affected by the heat or even lose consciousness, you must get them to an emergency room where they can be given intravenous fluids.

This is serious.

Just ask any physician or fools like me who endured the rigors of infantry training at Fort Jackson in the hottest months of the year.

Next: That lucky old sun has nothing to do but burn you all day.