If I learned anything in the military, it was the importance of staying hydrated and how to keep going in the heat. In Iraq, the temperature stayed at 120 degrees plus for most of the summer months. Conducting operations while wearing a helmet and 40-50 lbs of body armor could really wear you down quick. One has to prepare for doing something like that and if you’re out and about loading and unloading your loads
like I am in the heat; you will have to prepare your bodies too.
Firstly, you need to carry an adequate supply of water with you at all times. You don’t need a refrigerator in your truck either. I don’t have one, but I carry a couple of cases of water with me and it can be a life saver. Last year, I broke down in Charlotte, NC on one of the hottest days of the year. I was thankful that I had water with me then as I waited for help and also thankful that I wasn’t in the middle of Nevada, hundreds of miles from truck service. In any case, I am prepared for those types of emergencies too. The key to proper hydration is drinking plenty of water before you're exposed to the heat and then maintaining a constant intake of liquids during the extreme conditions.
You also need to eat regularly and carry emergency rations with you at all times. I’ve found that salted almonds are extremely helpful in keeping me going in the summer heat. They are a very caloric dense food. A few handfuls of them will immediately put 800-1000 calories and 20 to 30 grams of protein in your body. The added salt will replace the salt you’re losing through excessive sweating. Bananas are easy to carry on the road and will replace potassium lost which will help avoid cramps. Gatorade or other sports drinks are great too. They do the job of the water and the almonds together, but can be expensive.
It doesn’t take long in summer heat for your body to weaken and become dehydrated and succumb to heat exhaustion or even worse, a heat stroke. The tips regarding salted almonds and Gatorade are not healthy living habits to follow by any means, but they are tips for the times when your body needs extra fuel to perform in extreme conditions. Try and stay cool out there this summer!