As the summer heat has returned after recent cooler temperatures, listeners should remember to stay hydrated.

Guthrie County Health Services Director Jotham Arber says that staying hydrated is extremely important for all individuals, but especially those predisposed to developing heat illnesses. He tells Raccoon Valley Radio some helpful tips, along with his recommendation on how residents can stay hydrated.

“And you want to make sure that you’re choosing your drinks (wisely).I suggest water, but you can have Gatorades. I would just really recommend to folks that they stay away from anything that’s sugary, and especially when it’s hot outside, be very careful with drinking alcohol. As your body begins to heat up and you drink alcohol, it can really cause you to go into heat stroke and heat exhaustion faster. So drinking that water or the unsweetened stuff is really important.”

Arber adds that especially for those that are doing some kind of physical exertion, getting enough fluids is paramount. Taking regular breaks to cool off a little and have something to drink can help keep individuals from developing a heat related illness, and replenish the fluids that they’ve lost.