Now that my toddler can run around and play outside, she can’t get enough of it. Unfortunately, Mommy is prone to heat exhaustion and heat stroke so I can’t be outside for too long in the summer without overheating and getting sick.
But all of that changed when I found a solution and now I’m able to prevent heat exhaustion and keep cool for longer periods of time outside in the summer sun. And bonus! I’ve got a giveaway for you!
{ Post contains affiliate links. Giveaway is sponsored by Nano-Ice }
What are Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Symptoms?
So there are basically three levels of heat sickness or heat illness.
- Overheating
- Heat Exhaustion
- Heat Stroke
Overheating is what I feel before I get full blown sick. Since I’m prone to heat related sickness, I have little alarm bells that go off before I actually get sick with heat exhaustion. This is mainly a feeling of “It’s hot AF and I need to go inside before I get sick.”
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke have different symptoms and I’ve had both. Here is a handy guide.
I know when I need to stop what I’m doing when my cheeks start tingling. I don’t know if everyone experiences tingling, but I do sometimes especially during exertion induced heat exhaustion.
The main thing that happens when you get sick from the heat is that your internal temperature rises and your body can’t cool down.
Being prone to heat exhaustion is the worst
I’ve gotten heat exhaustion or heat stroke at least once a year since I was a toddler. AT LEAST once a year. Every vacation, trip to the zoo or amusement park, every STL Cardinals game, every time we ran the mile in gym class, every summer playing tag outside, every state fair. I got sick.
I even got sick from the heat just walking from the building where I worked to my car across the street because it was 110 degrees almost every day that summer.
I’ve thrown up on so many street corners of St. Louis after Cardinals games and Six Flags trips. I even threw up on a median.
Chichen Itza Mayan ruins in Mexico? They don’t have air conditioning there. So I got sick.
The problem that I have is that I don’t sweat like a normal human should. So my body can’t stay cool in the summer heat OR if I work out strenuously. There’s a reason I don’t do a lot of cardio. I can’t handle it even in 60 degree weather.
When I was pregnant with Toot, my doctor ordered me to not get overheated because it was bad for the baby. She told me I wasn’t allowed to be outside for more than 15 minutes in temperatures above 80 degrees. So that’s what I did. (I did get a little overheated at the zoo in Naples, FL though. Whoops.)
My toddler wants to play outside all day but I can’t
Toot is an outdoor girl. She loves playing outside, and during the spring I can take it. The summer, not so much.
I know my limits though. Over 75? I’m ok, if I’m in the shade mostly and don’t do anything strenuous. Over 80? Must stay in the shade and limit my time outside. Over 90? Nope. I can’t be outside for more than 10 minutes. Direct sunlight? FORGET IT.
I feel terrible when she doesn’t get to play outside, and I force her to come inside because I can’t take the heat. And she’s not old enough to play outside by herself yet. So I had to find a way to cool myself while I’m outside.
Need indoor low-prep toddler activities?
How I stay cool outside and prevent heat exhaustion during the summer
I found out that I have to cool my body either with water or ice.
I can make artificial sweat with water. When I would go out for a run, I would douse myself in water before every lap around my neighborhood. If we were at the beach or a pool, I just had to keep dunking myself in the water every few minutes.
Drinking water while I’m outside does help a little so I don’t get dehydrated, but I found out that hydration alone will not keep me from getting overheated.
But the most effective way I stay cool if I can’t be drenched in water is the . It’s a handmade necklace with Nano-Ice technology. You throw it in the freezer and it feels like ice even though it’s not. It won’t melt or drip on you. It just stays cold for hours.
I wear it so that it cools the back of my neck, and I can bring it up to my carotid artery to cool my blood. It’s comfortable and it just looks like a funky necklace. The two that I have are , but it also comes in
and
.
The allows me to be outside longer in the summer heat. So more time to play without feeling sick.
Nano-Ice Giveaway
Enter the giveaway below to win a Nano Ice cooling necklace. You can prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke this summer and keep cool!
Ashley says
Where has this cooling necklace been all my life!? In spring time and fall when it’s a little too hot and I’m overdressed, I overheat and nearly pass out! I can’t wait to try this.
Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says
Omg I don’t know how I lived without it. I have two now!
Calvin says
I had heat stroke once in Asia it was almost 38 degrees outside and I was out for hours.. wasn’t pleasant
Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says
Yeah Asia has some really hot summers. That’s why the inventor made the necklace for his wife while they were in India.
LILLIAN BROWN says
I love summer but the heat drives me into my air conditioned house, would love to try this.
Margaret Palmer says
I am certain the Nano necklace will be useful.
Eldon Bell says
I work outside in the heat all the time. I would love to win this to try it so I can stay cool and if it works good probably would buy more for the guys. Can you make them in black and bright fluorescent green ? Lol
Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says
Lol he might be able to. They’re handmade.
Tony T says
I struggle with summer heat and the glare. Sunglasses don’t help much.
Darcy Koch says
Thankfully, I have never suffered from either of these conditions. However, it is hard for me to stay in the sun for any length of time. I take frequent breaks.
Chrissy says
I’ve never seen anything like this! It looks cool, pun intended. I would love to try this, especially now that the weather is already getting warmer and I get really hot when I walk to and from work in the summer.
Marlene V says
Summertime can be so hot. The house gets so warm and then when we try to open everything up at night there never seems to be any breeze to cool us off!
Alison Braidwood says
I’m blonde and pasty, so I’ve always had a problem with what I call “stroking out” in summer. I’ve never been one to sunbathe, and always wear a hat if I know I’ll be outside for extended periods of time. I’d definitely buy this product for wearing on road trips, beach visits, and wild blueberry picking.
Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says
It’s amazing for the beach. And even inside if it’s hot. I just used it while I was doing chores because I got hot.
Shannon says
This would be amazing for me – I’m like my dad, awful in the heat, I suffer with heat illness and rashes too!
Elena says
I used to get heat stoke frequently after spending entire days in the sun at summer camp. I’m very fair and am concerned my kids will have the same experience so I’m very cautious about keeping them cool.
Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says
Me too! I’m so worried that my daughter will have the same weird no sweating thing I have. So far she seems to be fine in the heat but I’m so cautious about it.
Kristen says
Great tips! I am a big proponent of safety, and I plan to write a blog post about the risk of heat stroke and heat exhaustion when children are left in cars. Vehicular heatstroke is often a misunderstood phenomenon. Thanks for helping others stay safe!
Nicole Lancaster says
I live in Arizona, where the summers are brutal. I could really use a Nano Ice cooling necklace to help get me thru the 100 plus degree heat.
Kristen Patton says
I need this for work! I am currently pregnant and we lost our air conditioner and it gets up over 90 in the office 🙁
Niki @ Toot's Mom is Tired says
Omg that’s awful! When I was pregnant I kept turning the air down to 70 in my office and everyone hated me. ?