Tampa Bay Injury Attorney Blog
Tampa, and the entire Sunshine State, is known for its relatively warm year-round climate. Intense heat not only burn you while on your bike, but can easily lead to you becoming dehydrated without even realizing it and resulting in heat exhaustion/injury. The key to preventing a heat injury is to be prepared. The following tips from our Tampa Bay Motorcycle Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can help you face the heat:
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Stay hydrated. You must drink water and keep your body hydrated. Many Florida riders opt for a camelback or other hydration pack for their rides so that they can sip on their water without stopping their bike. Drink more than you think you need to ensure proper hydration. Remember, sports drinks are no substitute for H2O, but can be added along with for electrolytes. - Steer clear of caffeinated beverages and alcohol. Sugary sodas may sound good, but caffeine is a diuretic, which means this pulls more water out of your body. Alcohol and biking are not a good mix, for many reasons, so it is best to refrain from drinking alcohol and biking.
- Give your body time to recoup. Your body can only take so much heat, so make sure you get rest and cool down. Recognize the warning signs of heat stroke, like cramps, flushed skin, nausea, dizziness, headaches, intense sweating, and extreme tiredness.
- Wear the right gear. Head-to-toe gear can prevent injuries from a crash, but also prevent heat injuries. When you ride in warmer temps, it is best to stay covered in mesh or moisture wicking material. Technology has provided riders with cool gadgets to fight of the heat, such as cooling vests, wrist bands, and collars that absorb water into moisture-retaining fabric so that your body can keep cool for hours.
- Wear sunscreen. Extreme heat means intense sun exposure that can easily burn you in minutes. You want to wear sunscreen with SPF of 30 or greater on exposed skin every time you ride in the sun to stop burns.
Fatigue can creep up on you easily when riding in extreme heats, so make sure you are protected when traveling through Tampa in the warmer temps. Don’t wait until you have extreme thirst to drink some water, as you are already dehydrated at this point. Your body loses tons of water when you sweat, so you need to replenish these lost fluids before fatigue sets in.
If you start to feel any symptoms of heat exhaustion while on your bike, then it is best to pull over and rehydrate. It is also a great idea to rest until you have recovered from dehydration.
Our Tampa Bay Motorcycle Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton cannot stress this enough: Never ride your bike if you feel groggy, disoriented, or weak. The Florida heat is no joke!
If you are in a motorcycle accident in the Tampa Bay area, then call our Tampa Bay Motorcycle Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton right away for a free consultation at 813-221-3200 or contact us online.