On moving day, it’s imperative to take precautions to avoid heat emergencies. Moving is a stressful experience, and moving during the hot summer months only makes the process worse. Working in the heat can cause some serious health issues. We know you’re overwhelmed, but don’t get overheated too!

It’s important to first recognize the signs of heat emergencies. Cramping (muscle pains and tightness) is the first stage of a heat emergency. The symptoms of heat exhaustion include: muscle cramps, dizziness, headache, irritability, extreme thirst, nausea or vomiting, pale skin, heavy sweating, and fainting. In heatstroke, all the signs of heat exhaustion may be present, plus: body temperature over 105 F, irrational behavior, confusion, rapid shallow breathing, rapid weak pulse, seizures, and loss of consciousness. Note: you don’t have to sweat to have heatstroke; the Red Cross says that a person who is experiencing heatstroke might have skin that feels very dry from dehydration.

Okay, so now that you understand the symptoms of heat emergencies, we can explore the ways to avoid these situations:

Drink Plenty of Water: First and foremost, stay hydrated! Drink lots of water throughout the day and make sure to take a 5 minute break every hour to rest and rehydrate yourself. Check the Time and Temp:  Get your move started at the crack of dawn or wait until the sun goes down. If possible, get your truck the night before so you can begin before sunrise. Either way, try not to work during the hottest hours of the day (between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.). Dress Appropriately: Don’t wear heavy, dark clothes on moving day. Light colored, loose fitting clothing can work best for the summer heat. Wear a loose long sleeve shirt and a hat or visor to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Remember that you are going to be doing a lot of physical activity, so although you may be tempted to wear flip flops, sneakers are probably your best choice for footwear. Cold, Wet Towel: Place a cold wet towel on the back of your neck. This not only feels great, but it lowers your body temperature so you can cool down fast. If you don’t like the idea of keeping a cold, wet towel around your neck, soak your hair instead. Set-up Utilities: When you get to your new home, the first thing you should do is crank up the air conditioner. DIY Moving Containers: A Do-It-Yourself moving container is great because you can load up your items over the course of a few days. If you have a storage container, have it dropped off at your home and you can work in the early morning hours for a few days. This approach takes a bit longer but it makes the process much more enjoyable, because you’ll hardly break a sweat. Hire Reliable Van & Storage : Let us handle everything from start to finish. This one is by far the easiest way to beat the heat because you won’t have to do a thing!