TC-02 · Any plan · outside · the hottest day of the week

How to deal with 98 degrees

A heat wave on an outdoor day you cannot move: a game, a yard, a line, an errand that turns into an afternoon.

Hours
1–6
Surface
Whatever is in the sun
Kit
8 core · 2 nice

Water before you are thirsty, shade before you are hot, and leave before you feel bad.

Loadout

What to bring.

Core

  • Insulated bottle, filled with ice

    Start drinking before you go. Keep sipping on a schedule, not on thirst.

  • Wide-brim hat

    Shade you can carry. Neck and ears included.

  • Loose, light-colored clothes

    Light colors reflect sun. Loose cloth lets sweat do its job.

  • Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher

    Reapply about every two hours, sooner after sweating or swimming.

  • Cooling towel

    Wet, wring, neck. Simple and it works.

  • Electrolyte packetsOutside all afternoon · Working or playing hard outside

    An option after several hours of sustained sweating. Water and regular meals are enough for most shorter outings.

  • Your own shadeOutside all afternoon · Working or playing hard outside

    A clamp umbrella or pop-up canopy, if the place allows it. Do not count on finding shade there.

  • A plan for a cool room

    Know where the nearest air conditioning is: the car, a library, a store. Use it before you need it.

Nice to have

  • Small cooler with iceOutside all afternoon · Working or playing hard outside

    Ice for drinks, ice for a towel, ice for a wrist.

  • Spray bottle of cool water

    Wet exposed skin with cool water. Do not rely on a fan in extreme heat; take breaks in air conditioning.

Make this a checklist →

Timeline

How it goes.

  1. Night before

    Freeze a water bottle. Lay out the hat. Move what you can to early morning or evening.

  2. Morning

    Drink some water before leaving and eat a normal breakfast.

  3. Outside

    Take shade breaks on a clock, every 20–30 minutes if you are working hard. Re-wet the towel each time.

  4. After

    Rest somewhere cool and take a cool shower. Watch the people you came with, not just yourself. If anyone has heat-illness symptoms, follow the first-aid steps below.

The moves

What helps.

  • The worst heat is usually mid-afternoon. If anything can move to before 10 or after 6, move it.
  • Pavement, sand and car seats get much hotter than the air. Shoes on, seat covered, check metal buckles before kids sit.
  • Never leave a child or a pet in a parked car, not even for a minute.

Skip

  • Dark cotton
  • Big sugary drinks as your only fluid
  • Alcohol in the sun
  • Heavy midday meals

Watch for

  • Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, clammy skin, dizziness, headache, nausea or cramps. Stop activity, move somewhere cool, loosen clothing and apply cool wet cloths. Sip water if fully alert. Get medical help immediately for vomiting, worsening symptoms or symptoms lasting over an hour.
  • Suspected heat stroke is an emergency: confusion, slurred speech, collapse or very high body temperature. Skin may be dry or sweaty. Call 911 immediately, stay with the person and start rapid cooling with cool water or wet cloths in a cooler place. Do not give anything to drink.
  • Higher risk: young kids, older adults, pregnancy, heart conditions and some medications. Check on them first.
Safety references

Heat, lightning, water and food-safety guidance checked on .

General guidance, not medical, safety or legal advice. Venue rules change: check the school, park, venue or airline before you go. In a heat emergency, call 911. Written by Claude Code for PointCast.