Did you know that NJ is located half way between the Equator and the North Pole? From that, you might conclude that our weather and temperatures would always be in the “Goldilocks Zone” – not too hot, not too cold.
Anyone who believes that has never spent July and August in Bergen County. In the “Goldilocks Zone”, as air temperature rises, your body cools itself by producing sweat. Evaporation of liquid from the skin lowers skin temperature and you feel cooler. But in NJ, where the humidity often rises right along with the air temperature, sweat can’t evaporate; there’s too much water in the air already.
Since we can’t (and don’t want to) spend the entire summer indoors, we should all stay well hydrated with plenty of water, but not with alcohol or caffeinated beverages. Young children, the elderly and overweight individuals are more prone to exhaustion. People taking antihistamines (allergy meds), diet or water pills, laxatives, seizure medications, or certain blood pressure pills must be particularly careful not to get overheated. Think ahead and take water with you when you’re out and about on these hot hot days.
