Never leave a pet unattended inside a vehicle. Interior temperatures can rise quickly to life-threatening levels even when the outdoor temperatures are relatively comfortable. The interior temperature of a vehicle parked in in 70° weather will exceed 100° in less than 30 minutes, according to studies cited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and if the outdoor temperature is 90°, it takes less than 10 minutes to spike to 109°. What’s more, cracking the windows has little effect on interior temperatures. Love your pets — and leave them at home if there’s any chance they will be left unattended — even for a minute — in a hot car. #DogDays #Pets
Author: Jordank
Editorial Coordinator
Know the Signs of Heatstroke in Pets
Dogs cool their bodies through their paw pads and panting, and hot asphalt or cement can easily burn their paws. Avoid walking your pet during the hottest part of the day, especially in direct sunlight. Place the back of your hand on the pavement to judge if it is too hot for your pet. Dogs and cats are at particular risk for heatstroke if they are very old, very young, overweight, or have heart or respiratory disease. If you witness signs of heatstroke as heavy panting, glazed eyes, dizziness, or vomiting, quickly remove your pet to shade or an air-conditioned space and apply ice packs or a cold towel to their head, neck and chest; then consult a veterinarian. #DogDays #Pets
Keep Pets Safe During the Dog Days of Summer
It’s “dog days” of summer, so here’s a helpful reminder: Heat and humidity can be dangerous to your animal companions. Be sure that your house pets can stay hydrated by placing several bowls around the house and consider limiting their intake of grain-based foods that cause metabolic spikes in body temperature, says the National Weather Service. Schedule your pet’s #outdoor time to avoid the hottest parts of the day, avoid strenuous activities and instead provide plenty of shade. Be alert to heat illness in pets such as a rapid or irregular heart rate, excessive drooling, lethargy, refusal to eat, or excessive panting. #DogDays #Pets
Camp Out for a Thrifty Summer Getaway
The inflation caused by pandemic-era supply-chain disruptions is rapidly easing. Travel costs are down about 2% from last summer, according to NerdWallet, but leisure is likely competing with necessities for a share of your family’s disposable income.
For those who want to get away from it all while keeping #costs in check, there’s a time-tested alternative: camping. If you enjoy nature and are willing to “rough it” just a little bit, it offers plenty of bang for your #summer #vacation buck.
“Camping is the best way we can think of to make possible that family vacation when budgets are stretched so tight,” says Family Outdoors. “The cost of almost any campground will be significantly less than the cost of even a basic hotel room.”
Every state in the union has local, state and national parks that permit camping, so you can drive to your chosen spot and pitch a tent. You can search for the ideal campground by location and amenities at ReserveAmerica.com.
You could soon be paddling a canoe or kayak on a scenic waterway, hiking into a primeval geological formation, seeing unusual flora and fauna, or simply splashing around and cooking out with the kids. You can even camp near a major attraction such as an amusement park and visit it while saving on hotels.
The definition of “roughing it” differs from person to person, of course. Seasoned backpackers prefer the backwoods, carrying only what they need. Others are good with car camping — loading up equipment and parking at the site — or hike-in sites. If you’re anything like us, minimum requirements will include a shower, toilet and a source of clean water.
For more money, you can rent an RV or go “glamping” in an established yurt, cabin or lodge. But #thriftier options abound for when you have a reasonable amount of time and don’t want to spend a lot of #money. Whatever you choose, it’s the memories tat will be priceless.
Grab a tent, pack up the family and take off on an adventure! There’s only so much time left to enjoy the summer.
How to Dress for Extreme Heat
Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight clothing if you plan to be outdoors during extreme heat this summer. Natural fibers such as cotton, linen and silk breathe to allow perspiration to evaporate, and certain synthetics such as Coolmax are designed to wick away sweat. “Loose, billowy clothes allow air movement next to the skin and help with evaporation,” Penn State professor Larry Kenney told Real Simple. You can find many lightweight and lightly used garments at the #thrift stores supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org — or #donate the ones you no longer need. Resale proceeds go directly to programs that benefit the nation’s #veterans. #BeatTheHeat #OutdoorLiving