Blues skies can also mean hot days I tend to talk a lot about the weather in Central Florida, especially the heat. There is a reason for that. I don’t want you to make the same mistake that I made several years ago.
I grew up in New England. When I was a kid, if the temperature reached 80 degrees I felt like I was melting! I’m also very fair skinned. I easily burn, but I don’t tan. The heat always had a bit of an affect on me, but I thought I knew my limits.
That all changed a little over 15 years ago. I was no longer living in Massachusetts, but we weren’t yet in Florida. One day the heat was bothering me, but I ignored the warning signs. I was dizzy and felt nauseous, but I still thought that I was okay. The last thing that I remember is that everything started to grow black. Next thing I knew, I was on the floor, surrounded by worried people. I had passed out because of the heat, and my ankle was broken in three places. I needed surgery to be able to walk again, and it took a long time to heal. Fortunately, I did fully recover, and apart from the loss of some flexibility and some occasional pain my ankle is stronger than ever.
The reason that I am sharing this is because I do not want you to make the same mistakes that I made. My first mistake was that I hadn’t been drinking water. I was dehydrated the day that I passed out. When I felt lightheaded I should have sat down, which was my second mistake. If I had just listened to my body I might not have 13 screws and a metal plate in my ankle right now.
Unless you’re from the extreme south, there is a good chance that you are not used to summer weather in Central Florida. The sun just plain feels hotter on your skin. I never knew what humidity was until we moved here! The humid air just adds to the hot air, and it will take a toll on your body. I know this all too well.
You spend a lot of money on a Walt Disney World vacation and you do not want to waste one second of your time here. That might make you push yourself beyond your limits. You can’t do that. Drink your water, take breaks, and find AC from time to time. It’s much better to miss one ride because you were sitting down for a few extra minutes than to miss everything because you passed out and were rushed to the hospital. Don’t think that doesn’t happen. I’ve seen it with my own eyes more than once.