It's that time of year again here in Michigan when attic temperatures can be dangerously hot. Often times I enter attics at temperatures of 120° F or more which for those of you down south is probably on the cool side. Staying in an environment like that with an extra layer of clothing and respirator is just torture. One of my early investments was in a cool vest which I put on under my attic clothes. It lowers my core temperature allowing me to work in an attic longer and will less danger of heat exhaustion.

Another important purchase was in a cheap 32 oz. water bottle. I take it on every inspection and often times down a good portion of it after a hot attic inspection.

Inspectors face plenty of risks by just doing our job but there is one risk we don't need to take and that's the risk of becoming dehydrated.

Q. What is the risk of being dehydrated?

A. Dehydration can make a person feel fatigued or dizzy, may bring on a headache and may put a strain on the kidneys. Certain populations are more at risk for dehydration, such as young children, the elderly and people with chronic illness.

Q. How can you tell if you’re dehydrated?

A. One obvious indicator is the color of your urine: if it’s deep yellow, then you’re most likely dehydrated. Other indicators include dry mouth, dizziness, headaches, fatigue and decrease in urine frequency and output.

Q. What’s the best way to stay hydrated?

A. Typically water is fine. Be sure to drink plenty of water before you perform exercise or work in an extremely hot environment.

Q. What’s better, water or sports drinks?

A. High-level athletes need sports drinks to replenish their electrolytes, but most of us doing moderate day-to-day exercise don’t. I just take a large bottle of water with me to inspections so I can chug right after I'm done, or during if necessary.

Q. So how much water do we really need to drink each day?

A. The best thing to do is to carry a water bottle with you and sip throughout the day. The “eight 8oz glasses of water” guideline is a good baseline for most people, but it will differ depending on things like your weight, activity, etc. And you may need to drink more if you’re going to be active in a hot setting or climate.