Why Wearing A Cap Isn’t Enough To Prevent Heat Stroke

In order to have a completely carefree summer, you have to protect yourself against the sun and the heat. So avoid dehydration, sun burn and heat stroke. As for the first two, it’s easy and all you have to do is drink lots of water and put on enough sun cream. But as for heat stroke, it’s a bit more complicated.

The advice for this often contradicts itself but the general advice is to wear a cap. However, this is often far from enough.

Go for a different type of hat

Since this type of headgear doesn’t protect your ears or the back of your neck, which are two very sensitive areas, you should really be choosing wide-brimmed hats with, if possible, space between the skull and the back of the hat. This isn’t possible with a cap.

The other problem is the material. Since cotton absorbs the sweat too easily, it can’t evaporate off your skin and cool down your body temperature, which is sweat’s main function.

And contrary to public opinion, heat stroke doesn’t just happen when the top of your head gets too hot. As Christophe Prudhomme, E.R. doctor, says 'Heat stroke, it’s not just when your brain overheats, it’s when your entire body does.'

So a hat is definitely not enough if you want to avoid getting heat stroke!