Hot weather makes the heart pump harder. That is the reason why the majority of mountain rescue statistics are made up from summer walkers suffering heart attacks. So, how to walk safely in summer?
The answer is to keep up the water intake. It is vital not to wait until a thirst before stopping for a drink. Instead, keep drinking regularly from your water bottle.
Given that evaporation is the body's way to cool itself, soaking a hat with water is a great way
to cool the head. Walking in the heat increases the rate at which your feet swell, which can lead to them feeling tight in your boots. Cool water from a stream reduces any swelling and helps general foot comfort.
As for what clothing you wear, this should be lightweight and reasonably loose-fitting. Tight clothing will feel uncomfortable and may even lead to an irritating rash on the skin. The answer, if this does develop, is to try and stay cool as much as possible. Do this by either keeping in the shade, or washing the affected area with cold water, but without soap.
It is understandable to want to remove some clothing when it is extremely hot, but it does not really make much sense to take off T-shirts. The sun's rays can be quite strong, and shoulders are always very sensitive to sunburn. This is the worst place to be red and sore when you are wearing a heavy rucksack on your back. Wearing shorts can also create problems for walkers, as the backs of the legs can catch the sun very easily.