Avoid heavy suits: ask at your new office what the dress code is like, can you wear a shirt without a jacket?
Wear a hat: ideally with a brim to protect your face, head and neck from the harmful rays of the sun. Wearing a hat will also reduce glare on your eyes.
Wear sun glasses/shades with UV protection: your eyes can be damaged by bright sunlight so make sure you have a good pair of sunglasses that will protect them from the damaging rays. It is worth noting that some fashion sunglasses don’t offer this protection.
Get a sun umbrella: you could bring a standard umbrella but in many tropical countries you can buy umbrellas with reflective material that helps shade you from the sun.
Drink lots of fluids: with all that is happening with your first move abroad as an expat it’s an easy one to forget, but it is important to really up your fluid intake when you move to a hotter country. Try to stick to water as much as possible and keep sugary drinks, caffeine and alcohol to a minimum.
Avoid heavy meals and alcohol: although you may be wined and dined when you first arrive, it might be worth choosing lighter options like salads and fish when it comes to food. Drink plenty of water with alcohol as you can quickly become dehydrated in warm weather.
Heat exhaustion: it is easy to become a victim of heat exhaustion, particularly if high temperatures are new to you. Heat exhaustion occurs when your body overheats; you become nauseous and faint with a rapid pulse and muscle cramps. Any of these symptoms on their own are enough to indicate you may be becoming exhausted. If you experience them:
Sunburn: is a primary cause of skin cancer and a painful condition, it should be avoided as much as possible by staying in the shade, covering up with light clothing, wearing a hat and applying sunscreen with a high SPF (30+).
Insect bites: although many insect bites are simply irritating, some mosquito bites in affected areas can lead to malaria. If you are traveling to work as an expat in one of these areas, speak to your doctor about anti-malarial drugs, ensure you use insect repellent containing DEET and sleep under a mosquito net. To avoid bites of the annoying variety use insect repellent, avoid being outdoors in the evening and cover up as much as possible.