How to Move Safely in the Heat of Summer

Living on an island ensures we have more moderate temperatures. It’s not as cold as the rest of Canada in the winter, nor as hot in the summer. We do get heat waves though. At the time of this writing, there is a summer heat warning in effect due to an exceptionally strong ridge of high pressure over British Columbia. We’re experiencing record breaking highs of 38 degrees celsius and overnight lows of 22 degrees celsius.

If you’re planning your move to or within Victoria, your plans are locked into place and there isn’t anything you can do about the heat. However, you can make plans to help you and your family stay safe while you move to your new home. Here are a few tips:

Wear Appropriate Clothing

When you wake up the morning of your move and are getting dressed, make sure you choose loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing. Light cotton or linen is ideal because these fabrics can breathe, which means they allow air through them to wick away sweat and cool you off.

Make a moving day package and include suitable sunscreen plus hats and sunglasses.

Start Early and Go Slow

If you are packing, avoid the heat of the day by packing the items in the evening or early morning. Try to book our truck for the morning, so the heavy lifting can be done before it gets super-hot.

And if you weren’t able to avoid working while it’s hot out, take it slow. Take breaks and drink plenty of water while you sit in the shade or in front of a fan. It might take you more time, but heat can catch up to you if you’re not hydrating or if you’re over exerting yourself.

Stay Hydrated and Cool

Take a break if you are worried that you might be overheating. Head inside where there is air conditioning or fans. If the cool air doesn’t seem to be doing the trick, wipe yourself down with a cold cloth. Fill a cooler with some ice and store your cloths in there. Put them in the fridge if it isn’t unplugged.

The cooler will also help you stay hydrated because you can store all of your drinks in it. You’ll want to focus on drinking lots of water or something with electrolytes in it like sports drinks. While it might be tempting to sip a cold beer while you are loading the truck, the alcohol in it can interfere with your body’s ability to cool off. So save that beer or glass of wine until you are sitting on the porch of your new home when you can congratulate yourself on a job well done.

Know the Signs of Heat Disorders

Monitor yourself and your family for heat disorders. If you find yourself sweating more than normal, are feeling dizzy or nauseous you might have heat stress. If you don’t stop and cool off you might get to the point where your muscles are cramping, you feel weak or faint, and you have a headache then you might have heat exhaustion which is the precursor for heatstroke.

Some of the signs of heatstroke include the following:

• Sweating stops

• Hot, dry and flushed skin

• Start to feel agitation, confusion and diminished awareness of what is happening around you

Other symptoms of heatstroke include seizures and even cardiac arrest. While you can treat heat stress and exhaustion by rehydrating and resting, if your condition has progressed to heat stroke, call for an ambulance.

While suffering from a heat disorder can sound frightening, and it is definitely not something you want to add on top of the stress of moving, it is relatively easy to avoid with some planning and awareness. However, if you are concerned about the heat during your move, please be sure to let us know when you request an estimate with us.

Enjoy the summer heat, and stay safe!