Summertime Survival!

Bright sunshine.

Hot days.

Warm nights.

Humidity.

Pool time, air conditioning!!

It's summertime around the United States, which means a whole other way of surviving everyday life due to the weather outside. Much like dealing with the winter weather, many PHers need to take precautions and make adjustments to make sure they can get through the summer months with no problems. Once again I have asked fellow phriends (friends with PH!) to provide some survival tips for the summer. Here are their ideas! Many thanks to everyone who participated in this blog post!!

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*Kevin B: Well anything I could offer would be obvious...like getting up early to get my yard work done or waiting until late evening etc...living in A/C and going from A/C to A/C lol although it's pretty nice down here in Terre Haute right now.

*Jen C: On the Texas Gulf Coast, I stay in the AC most of the summer, try to do errands early if I can, and take frequent AC breaks if I am out for any period of time! Cool pool helps me cool off when I can and drinking cold liquids! Also dress light lol

*Pat F: I want to continue walking as I did in pulm. rehab. I can do it on a treadmill...but I really like to walk for 30 minutes or so walking around Wegmans or Target. Both stores are clean, air conditioned..FLAT! I stop when I need to, pick up anything I need, or nothing at all. They both have clean restrooms. LOL (for those on diuretics) I can go to Kohls, but their carts are terrible, aisles are narrow...but it is clean and friendly.

*Anna A: Stay hydrated, I know we are limited on liquids, but we still have to make sure we don't pass out from the heat. We all keep our meds with us when we leave or we should and they should be kept in a cool spot, I like to have a mini ice chest in my car. Try to stay in shady areas, we can't be in the sun too long because of the type of medications we are on. If we are going for a walk, tell someone, just in case you don't make it back. Try not to talk and walk, we could lose our breath and pass out.

*Tiffany G: A/C and plenty of ice water.

*Guy M: Beer and some shade (I like how Guy thinks! lol)

*Alex F: Carry water with you wherever you go. Don't over exert in humidity, knocks me down for days! Go inside when too hot. Look at weather report. If it's bad for eldery or allergy sufferers, it's bad for us too.

*Vernon G: When it's too hot I stay in the AC.

*Patty F: South Jersey here...wear loose clothing and if you use liquid oxygen, take an extra tank to allow for evaporation in the humidity.

*Catalina L: I'm out and about a lot on buses and that means waiting at bus stops on HOT days. I take umbrella, frozen water bottle, the cooling rag that my PHriend Bonnie sent me, sunglasses. And in between I will go into cool A/C stores just to look around until I cool off. Then I come home and take everything off and relax in my own A/C cool home.

*Lisa T: As everyone else said, to keep hydrated. I know myself being on water pills I can get dehydrated easily. Also to keep cool. Not to eat anything heavy.

*Janet P: I love being outside...and I don't have anyone who needs me at home, nor much to do during the day other than housework. So I can be out in the heat and recover when my body gets too hot. I hydrate, use the AC when it gets way too hot or muggy.

*Cathy M: I use ac all the time because of the humidity. Being on the ocean we tend to have high humidity, as in 90%, most of the time.

*Jennifer K: Coming from Florida, summertime means bad storms in the afternoons and the potential for tornadoes and hurricanes. We, as PAH patients, should always be ready in case of emergency but when you add those pesky little natural disasters, we have to be even more diligent! Extra back-up supplies, generators in case you lose power, knowledge of where the closest "special needs" shelter is, phone lists including your Specialty pharmacy number, oxygen company number, etc...Extra cash! AND having a designated spot to meet at if you can't go home, and a previously planned place to stay in case your home is not livable...Anyone else from the coast want to add anything? Oh yeah, homeowners insurance!!

*Susan T: I hate air-conditioning because it freezes me, and I hate humid heat because it zaps me. It's not too bad at my house because I can keep the AC where it is comfortable for me. When I go to other places, though, I have to make sure I have a jacket or sweater for inside. Sometimes I still get too cold and have to go outside in the heat for awhile to get warm and then go back inside. I keep an afghan at my church because it is always too cold for me - summer and winter.

*Evelyn C: Go to the water, beach or pool with the highest sun block. Maintain in the water to refresh your body from the heat. Bring some cookies and cakes with lots of drinks of all kinds.

*Mary W: I get up early and do all my outside work early in the morning or late in the evening.

*Deborah W: Popsicles, ice cream, water (lots of water) and a/c. When it is too hot to go out during the day, I make it a point to sit on the patio in the evenings when it cools off some.

*Pat K: I use flexible ice packs. I take them with me in a small insulated nylon cooler with a bandana and apply to neck when I feel myself becoming overheated. Also in addition to sun block (apply often when you're outside), I take a large golf umbrella for daytime outdoor concerts, picnics, etc.

*Joellen B: Do your running around in the morning or evening to avoid the hottest part of the day. Also ask for help with some stuff that is too hard to do!!

*Regan S: I'm in the Mojave where it's regularly in the hundred and teens in the summer. I like to suck on ice cubes. Since I have to limit my water intake, sucking on ice makes my water allowance last longer! I take cool showers in the middle of the day. I exercise early, like 6am. I have a special car seat cover that holds ice packs to keep the car seat cool while I'm shopping. I carry a small misting bottle and tiny hand held fan in purse. I wear minimal clothing when it's hot and I'm at home. I just have to remember not to answer the door in my underwear...lol I keep a beach umbrella in my car, too.

*Pam M: Stay in the house during the hottest time of the day! A/C, fans, lots of H2O.

*Tammy D: Keep hydrated.

*Kathy B: Stay hydrated. Drink water and avoid caffeinated drinks as they dehydrate the body. Pace yourself in the heat. Don't try to do everything in one day, spread the chores/errands out through the week. Do a check on each other, we do that here anyway, but if you live by phamily, check up with each other. Help each other out. Be careful of aerosol bug spray. It messes up the lungs. Use lotions, no aerosols.

*Lynne C: I love Outshine Fruit Bars...25 calories and 0 sodium. Very refreshing.

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If you have any summer survival tips of your own, please post in the comments below!