Safety Tips for Hot Days on the Range

With the extremely hot and humid weather we’ve been having in Ohio over the past few weeks, it’s a great time to review some safety precautions for time on the range. As well as ways to make a day of training, in sweltering weather a little less uncomfortable. Avoiding heat exhaustion while keeping yourself and others safe requires a little preparation. Here are some safety tips for hot days on the range.

What is Heat Exhaustion?

Whether you’re competing in a match, taking a class or just training on the range, exerting yourself in hot weather can sometimes lead to heat exhaustion, especially if you are not used to being out in hot and humid weather for long periods of time. According to the Cleveland Clinic, signs of heat exhaustion include the following symptoms:

• Heavy sweating
• Cold, clammy skin
• Muscle cramps
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Feeling tired or weak
• Feeling thirsty
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fast heart rate
• Fast and weak pulse
• Fast, deep breathing
• Elevated body temperature — typically 101 to 104 degrees F

Since shooting competitions and training courses take place regardless of weather conditions, it’s essential to recognize these signs so you can identify them in both yourself and those around you. The last thing you want is someone falling out with a loaded firearm in their hands. In the meantime, though, you can prepare yourself for an upcoming event in the heat by doing the following:

• Wear clothing that allows air to circulate around your skin and protects you from the sun. I have a few Magpul Sun and Steel Performance Hoodies that I love wearing, especially on sunny days. The fabric has cooling minerals with active wicking, rapid drying, and is UPF 50 rated, which means it blocks 98% of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, both UVA and UVB.

• Wear a hat to keep the sun off your face. I like to wear a wide-brimmed hat that covers both my face and the back of my neck. It may not look tacti-cool, but it helps avoid sunburn on my ears and the back of my neck.

• Stay hydrated. I begin hydrating before I even head out for the day. Sure, I always have my initial cup (or two) of coffee in the morning, but then I switch over to water. Well before I begin feeling thirsty I start adding Liquid I.V. to the water. I purchase a few different flavor pouches at Costco when they are on sale. Then, I pack a variety of the convenient little sticks in my range bag. I find it easier to drink extra water when I switch out the flavors throughout the day.

• S.O.S. (Seek Out Shade) When my boys were Cub Scouts, this was the mantra for every summer camp. I swear it was always record-breaking heat during these weeks. Whether you’re just standing around or moving from place to place, if there’s any shade available, get under it. While you’re there, grab a drink of water, and if possible, take a seat. I don’t know how many times I’ve watched students on a range standing in the blazing sun when just one or two steps back would put them in the shade.

Your Gear and Shooting on Hot Days

The following are tips I’ve learned along the way that may seem obvious to some, but until you’ve experienced it, you may not consider it.

I never realized how hot guns and ammunition can get until I spent time on the range working off a table in the blazing sun. Grabbing what seems like a blistering hot pistol may come as a surprise, and once hot, they are not easy to cool down. Bringing along a light-colored towel to cover these items when they are not in use helps somewhat.

Sweaty hands make for slippery guns, and you don’t want that. LockedIn Grip , a liquid shooting sports chalk that dries out sweaty palms, creating a better grip on the firearm, is a must-have in your range bag.

After a day on the range, take a few minutes before putting your gun away – wipe it down and apply a light coating of gun oil, especially if you’ve been sweating. The salt in your sweat, if left on the firearm, can cause pitting and corrosion of the metal.

Final Thoughts

As the proverb states, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” These are just a few safety tips for hot days on the range. When you know you’re going to spend time outside in hot, humid, sunny weather, pack all the extras and take the time to care for yourself. If you think you may have heat exhaustion, the Cleveland Clinic suggests these things immediately:

• Call for medical help.
• Move to a cooler or shaded area.
• Loosen or remove excess clothes.
• Lie down with your legs elevated.
• Use any available means to cool your body, like fanning yourself or soaking towels in ice water and applying them to your skin.
• Slowly sip water or other fluids. But do NOT drink anything if you suspect you might have heat stroke. Wait until help arrives. People with heat stroke are at risk of inhaling fluids (aspiration), which can be dangerous.

Check out the line of Springfield Armory’s guns – perfect for hot weather shooting, or frankly, any weather at all!

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  About Michelle Cerino

  Michelle Cerino, aka Princess Gunslinger, first entered the firearms industry in 2011 as co-owner, president and trainer at a national training company. She immediately began competing in both 3-Gun and NRA Action Pistol, becoming a sponsored shooter. Michelle is currently a columnist and Managing Editor of Women’s Outdoor News, as well as owner of Pervenio LLC. She also manages social media for Vera Koo and FASTER Saves Lives. Michelle encourages others to step out of the comforts of home and explore. View all posts by Michelle Cerino →