Perspectives on Diabetes Care
This is the official blog of the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists where we share recent research and professional opinions on diabetes care and education.
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Keeping it Cool in New Orleans
Aug 3, 2015, 15:58 PM
Nearly 3,000 of us will be attending AADE15 in New Orleans this week. I arrived a bit early and have had a couple of days to start my experience. The city has such an exciting vibe. The jazz (and other music) is cool. The temperatures are HOT! If you are attending, be sure to take in the great music; wander through the nearby French Quarter, French Market, and the beautiful Garden District; eat some of the amazing food; attend every meeting and event you can squeeze in; and, stay cool.
The temperatures are running in the low- to mid- 90s during the day and there is moderate humidity. It is HOT! All of the AADE15 activities are in beautiful, air conditioned buildings (so bring a little sweater, jacket, or wrap). There will be more hours of cool programming than in the past. General Sessions start at 7:30 AM to add more education hours. Zumba will be available in the cool convention center lobby on Thursday and Saturday at 6-7 AM so you can get some exercise without getting too hot. There will be cool evening events where you can connect with friends and make new ones.
Now, for safety in the heat. You will need to walk outside from your hotel, at least a bit, to get into the convention center. Try to get indoors as soon as possible to avoid the heat. It might be better to course through the air-conditioned halls than hot sidewalks. I have found myself crossing the street to get in the shade. It feels noticeably cooler. Find a breeze where you can (but, don’t be tricked by the cooler feeling you get; you are probably still losing fluid in sweat).
Remember to drink plenty of cool, non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic drinks. There should be water stations throughout the convention center so fill up whenever you can. When walking outdoors, it is better to wear light-colored clothing to decrease the sun’s rays. If you are staying a distance from the convention center, or heading out to sightsee, take advantage of the air-conditioned buses that run through the city. You can get a day pass for $3 on the bus/trolley or pay for a single trip for $1.25 (they don’t make change so have the exact amount).
If you are feeling ill, let someone know. Tell a friend or get help from one of the AADE, hotel, or convention center staff. Some signs of heat exhaustion are: cool, moist, pale or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea; dizziness; weakness; or exhaustion.
Keeping these safety tips in mind will help you to enjoy all of the wonderful, cool things New Orleans and AADE15 have to offer. Looking forward to seeing you in NOLA!