Tips for protesting in high temperatures

It starts before you arrive.

Photo by George Chandrinos on Unsplash

It’s no secret: summer in the south can be miserable, even without a heat wave.

Hi! Jess with

York County Rising

here. We’re a partner organization of 50501 South Carolina, and I organize with both groups. I also live with multiple chronic health conditions that make me more susceptible to overheating and heat exhaustion, plus I’m on a medication that increases my risk. And I’ve lived in the south almost all of my life.

You could say I know a little something about staying safe(r) while protesting or even just existing in the South Carolina heat and humidity. 😅 I also reached out to our medics from 50501 SC and 50501 Veterans for their expertise on the signs and symptoms of heat illness, and how to take care of ourselves.

Know The Signs of Heat Illness

Heat illness can sneak up on you, and you won’t realize it’s happening. It’s important to know the symptoms so you can respond to them early.

Heat Illness

Heat illness is progressive, from cramps → exhaustion → heatstroke.

Watch for muscle cramps, dizziness, headache, nausea.

If symptoms escalate — a faster heart rate, confusion, slurred speech — cool immediately and seek medical help.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke (core ≥40 °C / 104 °F) is life-threatening — call 911, use ice-water immersion or cold compresses, remove clothing, offer fluids if if the person is conscious.

Know Yourself

It’s also really important to know your risk factors and make sure you are making the best decisions for your health. Are you on any medications that increase your risk? Do you have conditions that make heat less tolerable or make it more difficult for your body to regulate its temperature?

Once you know your risk factors, think about your limits. At what point does dysregulation kick in for you usually? If you know your limit is 10 minutes, that’s great! 10 minutes still counts. And if you can’t be directly outside, you can still show up! Drive by to honk and wave. If you can, circle around more than once. Play fun music. You could make some signs and grab a friend or two, and have your own car protest driving by! Support from passing cars is so encouraging and really helps with morale.

Or maybe you can be out for a few minutes but not long, and you have some extra pocket money — buy some water or any of the supplies below, and take them out to the protest. You can hand them out directly to people, or drop them off with the Medics or Marshals.

Your health is important, and none of us is going to think less of you or judge you for taking care of yourself.

What’s in my bag What I do:

• The #1 most impactful and important thing I can do for myself is hydrate properly and regularly, not just on protest days. Because I have POTS and chronic migraine, I drink electrolytes daily anyway. In the 2-3 days leading up to a protest, I increase my fluid intake and double my electrolytes. (For the folks worried about my intake, I’ve worked with my health care providers on this.)

• Drink before I feel thirsty. Set a timer if needed. Keep drinking.

• I apply sunblock (50 SPF or higher) on my face and body as usual in the morning, reapply it when I arrive, and reapply it during the event. Sunblock doesn’t work properly unless you reapply it 😉

• While I do wear compression socks and dark colors, I am otherwise in loose clothing that allows air to circulate. Natural fibers like cotton, linen, and even 100% wool are the most breathable and heat-tolerant. If you’re not in summer goth mode, make your way to the lighter-colored clothing in your closet.

• Wear a hat. Some folks recommend a wide-brimmed beach or camping style hat, and I can definitely see why. I wear a standard baseball cap because it works for my needs.

• Sunglasses. Always. They help keep the sun out of my very light-sensitive eyes.

• A salty snack or two with some sugar and protein. I don’t always use them, but I’ve never regretted having them in my bag.

• Hand fans. Any kind. Make one out of paper. Something to move the air.

• Take breaks. At the 6/14 No Kings, I turned on the car, left the door open so I wouldn’t get too chilled, and sat in the AC for a few minutes when I realized nothing else was helping. It cooled me down, and I was good to go again. If you need to sit in the car or under a tree or wherever you find a cooler spot — do it!

• I used to bring a misting spray bottle, but I lost it. I’m getting another.

What I plan to try this weekend:

• Neck fan

• Wet washcloth on the neck (for the fan to blow on!)

• We’re also adding popsicles, more electrolytes, and regular fans hooked up to a battery to our cooling tent

What people on the Internet suggest:

• Umbrella/parasol (I always bring one, but I gotta be honest, I’ve never used it this way 😂)

• A specially-made wet neck wrap

• Body ice packs/vests

• Clothes especially made to be cooling (I haven’t had much luck here, but a lot of folks find them very helpful!)

• Dumping water on your head and/or attending with your hair still wet, and rewetting it whenever it dries (I’m not entirely sure this would work here given how much humidity we have, but I guess it’s worth a shot!)

What our Medics recommend:

• In addition to loose clothing, fishing shirts are also a good option. They have long sleeves and are usually vented and made of a material to encourage evaporation. Sometimes they’re made of UV-blocking material too.

• Keffiyehs and Panama hats are good options for head covers.

• Camel backs can be a game changer for water intake.

• Check out the event’s cooling station. They usually have items like water, ice, ice packs, cooling towels, umbrellas, and sunblock. They can also pull in the event Medic(s) quickly if you need assistance.

• Be careful with ice water. “Room temp” is less stressful on the body to digest when it’s hot, but once your drink is hot, toss and refill it.

• If you’re overheating, remove your shoes and socks, and then pour cool water on your feet to help your body regulate.

🎤 Over to you. What’s useful for you in the summer heat?