Don’t sweat the heat Published May 4, 2011 By Senior Airman Breanna Nygren 386th Expeditionary Medical Group SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Saying the desert is hot would be an understatement. Stick your head in an oven, turn it up full blast and you will experience a taste of what kind of heat the desert has to offer. If you are traveling to this country from the frosty north then you are in for a real treat. Last year this country hit a record high of 126 F in mid-July. A big challenge a person can face in the desert is heat illness. Heat illness is no joke; as the thermostat creeps the unprepared tend to drop like flies. Heat stress can simply be avoided with protection, prevention and proper hydration. Protect your body; the more skin exposed to UV rays leads to fluid loss, skin burning and blistering, massive fluid loss and electrolyte imbalance. There is a reason we were all issued boonie caps prior to this deployment. The boonie cap provides shade to the neck, ears and face, not to mention they're only authorized in deployed desert locations. Now that the head is covered, garnish with a pair of shades. Overexposure to the sun's UV rays can permanently damage the lenses in our eyes. Over time the damage expedites to cataracts. Last but not least apply sun screen. No less than SPF 15 should be applied 30 minutes before exposure and double check the expiration date for effectiveness. Preparation for a desert disco inferno can prevent heat stress and illness. Plan your day in accordance with the high temperature of the day. The Heat Injury Prevention Guide maps out proper work/rest cycles for the different heat categories. According to the guide, when the temperature rises, breaks in the shade increase to sustain energy and health levels. Cool comfort neck ties come in handy for long hours out in the sun. The reusable neck ties contain granules that soak up water. Apply to the forehead or the neck to beat the heat. Follow the HIP clothing recommendations, as the heat rises loosen constrictive clothing around the ankles, waist, and, neck. In Basic Military Training we had hydration monitors that would blurt out every 10 minutes, "hydrate!" Your body is made up of 60 percent water. Under the most extreme conditions, your body could lose up to 25 percent of water from sweat alone. Working on the flightline in scorching 126 F temperatures is as close to extreme as you can get. Take accountability for yourself and monitor your urine in coordination with the urine chart guidelines. Don't fall victim to the sizzle and burn of the desert heat. Become aware of the danger that lies ahead and protect, prevent and properly hydrate for those scorching months. Knowing what the heat can do to the body will help you not sweat the heat.