Summer’s getting absolutely blazing hot this year! All over the USA, forecasts are pointing to sweltering high temperatures for July and August. Above-average heat spikes are going to strike across the East Coast, the Plains and the West in particular. In D.C., June saw several days of having temperatures over 90 degrees, and forecasts predict they won’t be dipping below 80 degrees anytime soon. It’s a summer heatwave, and it ain’t lookin’ pretty.
As a tactical type, you’re gonna want to take adequate preparations in response to these forecasts. Should they come to pass, you’ll be ready to handle it. High heat shouldn’t prevent you from living your life, whether that means doing outdoor training or going on an adventure in the wilderness.
But you’ve got to take the heat into account. That’s the tactical approach.
UNDERSTANDING THE HEAT THREAT
Before you begin your preparations to face a summer heatwave, you need to perform a risk assessment. You’ve gotta know what issues you’re going to have to deal with, and be able to recognize the signs that there is a problem. That’s an essential part of outdoor readiness. Let’s do a quick rundown of the negative outcomes associated with supremely high temperatures:
DEHYDRATION: One of the most debilitating conditions that could affect you in summer. When it gets severe, dehydration can be life-threatening, giving rise to symptoms such as a weak or rapid heartbeat, acutely low blood pressure or fainting and unconsciousness. And a milder state of dehydration is still gonna do a number on your body, making you less effective. You may experience dizziness, headaches, exhaustion and even muscle cramps.
PHYSICAL FATIGUE: Even if you can avoid dehydration, extreme heat can be quite punishing to your system. Your body will be straining to cool itself, and that drains energy. You’ll be working harder to perform strenuous physical tasks, and that takes its toll. You’ll be getting to a state of fatigue more rapidly than normal. Your outdoor readiness will plummet.
REDUCED STAMINA: Normally, you’d be capable of enduring a tough hike or an intense workout. Add intense heat to the equation and it’s a different matter. You can do some physical exertion on hot days to help you condition yourself—throw a ball around, play soccer or rugby, maybe even go rucking. But you can only condition yourself so much. High temperatures have a way of sapping endurance. You’ll need to take more frequent rests to cool down. You can’t just keep pushing yourself.
MOOD DETERIORATION: Intense heat can make you prone to irritability and frustration. Tactical readiness involves keeping your cool to make clear headed decisions. The heat can make you lose your cool, and that means losing your edge, too. Mental clarity declines. You can’t think straight and you find yourself guided by volatile emotions. Which means you increase your risk of making mistakes. That can land you in big trouble.
HEATSTROKE. A severe and damaging ailment that necessitates urgent emergency care, heatstroke is the result of your body overheating. It should be an unlikely circumstance as long as you stay alert for the warning signs and respond accordingly. Practicing heatstroke prevention is always essential when engaging in outdoor activities, but especially so in the summertime.
TACTICAL GEAR MATERIALS THAT KEEP YOU COOL
Time to start preparing to survive the heat. The first step is to equip yourself with hot weather gear. We’re talking the type of stuff that’s designed to help you beat the heat and take the sun’s onslaught in stride. Here’s a list of some of the materials and features to look out for when selecting gear with both outdoor readiness and heat safety in mind:
MOISTURE-WICKING FABRICKS. Physical activity in the middle of a summer heatwave is sure to get you perspiring. Sweat is good for cooling you down, but after a while, it’s no longer cooling and just makes you feel sticky and uncomfortable. Some people are also prone to excess sweat production. Tactical clothing made from moisture-wicking fabrics can help enhance comfort and physical performance. Look for such materials as nylon, polyester, Merino wool or bamboo.
MESH VENTILATION. Letting the air flow in and out of your clothing can be effective in preventing overheating. Apparel that traps the heat in would be bad news on a sizzling afternoon. Look for shirts, vests and outerwear with designs featuring integrated mesh panels. You can even find tactical backpacks designed with such a feature.
LIGHTWEIGHT NYLON OR RIPSTOP NYLON. Getting into more specific materials, let’s take a look at lightweight nylon fabric. Lightweight nylon is a synthetic material that has a fair number of appellations, including ultralight nylon fabric, ripstop nylon, blended nylon and parachute cloth. Its key feature is high durability with a low fabric weight. It offers unmatched comfort and breathability compared to less advanced materials. Some varieties are treated with silicone or polyurethane coatings for greater toughness.
HEATWAVE-FRIENDLY GEAR TO UPGRADE YOUR KIT
HYDRATION SYSTEMS. Tactical hikers commonly use hydration systems to help keep them trekking or climbing without stopping. Hydration gear also offers heatstroke prevention. They come in different types, but they share the same purpose of letting you imbibe water efficiently instead of having to stop to grab your water bottle. The most popular system is the hydration bladder—a flexible water reservoir that can be housed in a backpack. From the reservoir extends a drinking tube with a bite valve at the end. You can easily use it to drink water on the go! Typical liquid volumes held by hydration bladders vary from a scant 16 fluid ounces to over a hundred.
VENTILATED BACKPACKS. While we believe that a good tactical backpack is the best option for everyday carry, you might reasonably consider a more specialized hot weather gear option in the summer. For the heat safety conscious trekker, using a ventilated backpack could be the way to go when planning an extended hiking trip. Also known as trampoline backpacks or suspended mesh backpacks, these items are characterized by a framework that houses a mesh panel that is situated behind your back. The tight mesh pulls the backpack slightly apart from your body, facilitating airflow in that gap. This can help you stay cool on a long, hot, sweaty hike.
HEAD AND FACE PROTECTION. You might not always be lugging a backpack around, so you’ve got to pick up some gear that helps with heat safety when you’re traveling light. A boonie hat (or booney) is a popular choice of headwear nowadays. You can count it as tactical gear, too, given that it originated from a military cap worn by the Green Berets during the time of the Vietnam War. Neck gaiters or UV bandanas can offer excellent facial protection. Many neck gaiters employ some sort of cooling tech as well. All the better to withstand the heat! Look specifically for UPF-rated hot weather gear. That’s an indication of strong protection against ultraviolet radiation. You’ll want gear with UPF ratings of 30+ to 50+.
FIELD SAFETY IN EXTREME HEAT
When you have to be outdoors in the summer heat for prolonged periods, you need to be prepared with field safety strategies. These primarily boil down to awareness of your body and the condition it’s in. You should know the signs of bodily distress due to excess heat, and be ready to stop what you’re doing to inject some self-care. That’s not a sign of weakness—it’s part of being smart and competent.
Here’s what you need to be on the lookout for:
- SIGNS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION: copious sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea
- SIGNS OF HEATSTROKE: confusion, dizziness, nausea, flushed skin, rapid pulse
“Fainting” could be added to the list of symptoms. But by the time you’ve reached the fainting stage, it might be too late for you to respond to getting heatstroke.
Note that heatstroke is an acutely damaging condition that can harm your heart, brain, skin, muscles, kidneys and other internal organs. Anyone who is experiencing heatstroke requires immediate medical attention. In the worst-case scenario, a bout of heatstroke can be fatal.
Heatstroke prevention starts with good hydration and self-monitoring of your physical fitness. Never go without hydration, and be sure to drink water before and after any outdoor activity. Taking electrolyte supplements along with water helps to replenish the salts and essential minerals you lose from perspiring. (While many sports drinks contain electrolytes, they often come with added sugar or even caffeine that you can do without.)
We hope you have a great summer and don’t let the heat get to you! Stay safe and keep hydrated!
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