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Keeping cool on the water as temperatures rise in the Valley

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As Salt River Tubing and other outdoor attractions open for business this weekend around the Valley, paramedics are sharing an important reminder to keep your trip cool. 

"You have to be self-aware, most importantly," Phoenix Fire Captain Frank Keller told ABC15. 

Keller said you should be drinking water before you ever feel thirsty, wear sunscreen and know the symptoms of heat exhaustion, dizziness, fatigue, and muscle cramping. 

"Being out in the sun unprotected for long periods of time is a dangerous spot to be in," he said. 

The Arizona Department of Health Services reports around 2,000 people visit emergency rooms each year in the state for heat-related issues. 

Another worry? Alcohol. Aside from being a diuretic, Keller said drinking one too many can cause people to forget the basics. 

"You start to lose your coordination, you start to lose your judgment, and you may be further away from something than you think," Keller said.