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The summer months can be really hot around here, and if we as gardeners don't play it safe and care for ourselves, who's going to care for our plants? The best way to stay safe would be to stay inside, but the tomatoes and beans aren't going to pick themselves now, are they? So to protect our plants, we must first protect ourselves. Heat stress can come in the form of heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. These are all caused by our body not being able to sweat enough to cool us down. Dehydration also plays a role here where the body just stops sweating because we just haven't been drinking enough water. The symptoms of heat rash, heat cramps and heat exhaustion can be extreme sweating, dizziness, nausea and muscle cramps or spasms. If you notice this yourself, or if you see a friend suf- fering from any of these, get out of the sun and heat, get inside, cool yourself down (a cool shower works great) and drink water slowly. In the case of heat stroke, it's a medical emergency. Red hot skin, possible uncon- sciousness, lack of sweating and a temperature around 103 are all signs of heat stroke. Don't mess around and call 911 immediately! C O N T E N T S From bland to bold this summer Consider your options when selecting screening options DIY plumbing fixes A publication of the Waukesha Freeman and Oconomowoc Enterprise • JULY 2017 Your Guide to Homes, Home Improvement, Lawn & Garden and MORE! HOMES HOMES WAUKESHA + Play it safe, your plants depend on you See GARDENING/Page 2 MICHAEL TIMM Protect your skin, cool off, take breaks while working in the heat A gardener's hat helps beat the heat. As for sunscreen, dermatologists recommend SPF 30 and "broad spectrum" protection against both kinds of ultraviolet rays.

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