The heat is so oppressive where I live that I could have an omelet everyday by cracking an egg on the sidewalk; a viable option if I didnt mind bits of gravel and insects. The heat index is hitting the triple digits and there seems to be little relief in sight.

Despite the temperatures, many people continue to go outside and work on their gardens, or in their yards, and risk serious health problems if they dont take care of themselves. Dont make the mistake of thinking youre too young, fit or smart to get sick from the heat. Take precautions and keep yourself safe with these tips:

1. Water, water and more water. When youre outside in blistering heat, youre going to sweat no matter what activity you are doing. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. In fact, freeze several water bottles and take one out with you. The heat will melt the ice and give you a consistently cool drink for the day.

2. Wear a hat and sunblock. Slather yourself in sunblock from head to toe and reapply it throughout the day. You need SPF 30, at least, but preferably higher. Hats are a necessity when working outside in hot weather. You may think that those flowing locks will save you from a sunburn on the top of your head, but they wont. The last thing you want is to take a shower with sunburn blisters on your head. It hurts. A lot.

3. Take plenty of breaks. Heat stroke and exhaustion can sneak up on you when you least expect it. Even taking precautions doesnt mean the sheer heat of the day wont be too much for you. If you find yourself feeling dizzy or getting a headache, take a break and go inside to some well-deserved air conditioning. You should drink water and relax for at least 30 minutes or longer until the dizziness and headache goes away.

4. Seek medical attention. If you become overwhelmed by the heat and dizziness and nausea and headache dont go away, then seek medical attention. Heat stroke and dehydration can be deadly if gone untreated.

5. Dont go outside. When there is a heat advisory and the temperature is oppressive, take a break from gardening or lawn care and just stay inside. Spend the day with your kids or catching up on all those movies or television shows you DVRd and always swore you would get around to watching. When the heat is bad, going outside should only be done as a necessity. Its always better to be safe than sorry.

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