If you drive a truck at this time of year, you know firsthand how draining the summer sun can be. More than a mere inconvenience, the extreme heat and sunlight can cause health risks if not carefully handled. For those of us spending long hours in our trucks, here are a few tips for staying cool all season long.
Drink the Water
The best thing any trucker can do to stay cool and healthy in the heat is to simply drink more water. Our bodies are made primarily of H20, and it is that water that works as an AC unit to cool our bodies while also bringing oxygen to our organs. To determine how much water to drink on a hot summer day, divide your body weight in half (using pounds). The resulting number is the number of ounces you should be drinking. You can easily fill up bottles and cups at most rest stops, truck stops and other rest areas.
Sunscreen Is Your Friend
The sun’s rays can wreak havoc on anything they reach through the windows of your truck, and this is especially true on something as fragile as human skin. Make sure you are applying sunscreen liberally throughout the day to areas like your face, neck and arms.
Pick Up a Sweet Trucker Hat
Sure, trucker hats are on-trend, but they can also serve to help keep you cool and safe. A visor is a great tool to keep the sun out of your eyes and off of your face and head.
Say Hello to My Little Fan
Install a car fan. They’re small, they’re cheap and they can really make a difference on warm days. You can easily find fans that can clip onto almost anything in the cab. These are available as plugins or they use a built-in battery with a charger.