It’s summertime! The sun is shining; the kids are out of school, and millions of people around the world are choosing to make the big move. Summer is the most popular season for moving, and people all across the world are dealing with that unrelenting heat. But, fear not! If you are one of the many moving over the summer, there are precautions that you can take in order to make sure that your move is as cool, calm, and collected as possible.

1. Turn on Utilities Before You Move

After you’re all packed up, the last thing that you want to experience once you get to your home sweet home is a home without air conditioning. Schedule your utilities to turn on a day or two before you’re scheduled to move, just to make sure that you won’t run into any unnecessary heat.

2. Pack Fully and Efficiently

According to a long distance company in Plano, to stay as stress-free as possible, be sure to pack as much as you can before moving day comes. That way, you won’t have to worry about staying organized as you move things from place to place. Be sure to label boxes with the room that they’re supposed to be in so you, or professional movers, know exactly where things are supposed to go.

Also, in order to protect your belongings as much as possible, you should take extra precautions with the following items: batteries, candles, cassettes or VHS tapes, CDs, cleaning products, cosmetics, crayons, DVDs, electronics, medicine, and sunscreen. Each of these items is vulnerable to high temperatures. For example, if they’re left in the moving truck for long periods of time they may get damaged. You may want to pack these items with you in your own car, or make sure that they get packed away last and unpacked first.

3. Start Your Day Early

Want to beat the heat? Then you definitely don’t want to start your day in the afternoon. In general, the sun’s rays are usually the hottest around 11 AM to 3 PM. If you choose to start your move in the early morning, you may benefit from as much as a ten-degree difference from the high temperature of the day.

4. Stay Hydrated

Drinking enough water, especially while you’re moving in the hot sun, is key. While you’re moving your things in and out, you’re most likely going to be sweating a lot. If you don’t replenish those liquids, you’re going to be dealing with the effects of dehydration. You may even run into the effect of heat stroke.

Some of the symptoms of heat stroke are:

  • Confusion
  • Dizziness
  • Flushed skin
  • Headache
  • Increased body temperature
  • Increased heart rate
  • Muscle cramps
  • Muscle weakness and fatigue

What you must understand, is that the effects of heat stroke and heat exhaustion often overlap. The differences between heat stroke and heat exhaustion is that heat exhaustion brings a person’s body temperature to a temperature that’s at or below 104 degrees. For heat stroke, the person’s temperature will be over 104 degrees. If you see anyone who’s going through these symptoms, and their internal temperature is over 104 degrees, get them cooled as quickly as possible and take them to the nearest emergency room. Before your moving day, buy enough bottled water to replenish everyone involved in the move for the entire day. The heat is very serious, be sure that you’re staying hydrated at all times.

5. Apply Sunscreen

Protecting your skin is important! Before you get out in the hot sun, make sure that you’ve covered all of your exposed skin in sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that you choose a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or more, is water-resistant, and provides broad-spectrum coverage (this means that it protects you from both UVA and UVB rays.) It takes approximately 15 minutes for the sunscreen to completely soak, so give yourself some time for the sunscreen to get in place before you go outside.

6. Dress Appropriately

Your ability to stay cool has a lot to do with the things that you are wearing. Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing is going to keep you the coolest. Breathable fabrics, like cotton and linen, are going to work the best since they absorb sweat and moisture. Rayon and polyester, on the other hand, cling the heat to your body. Additionally, wearing a hat can protect the sun from your face and wearing sunglasses can block harmful UV rays from your eyes.

When moving in the summertime, it’s important to plan accordingly to make sure that your move is as cool as possible. From getting as much water as possible to planning your perfect summer move outfit, it all ensures that you’re protecting yourself from the summer heat. As long as you stay organized and plan for the season, you’ll be relaxing in your cool new home before you know it.