By Heather Knapp
Heat related death and illnesses are preventable yet, over 600 people are killed from illnesses caused by extreme heat every year (CDC, 2017). Heat related illnesses; such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heat cramps, sunburn, and heat rash occur when our bodies are not able to properly cool down, causing damage to our brains and organs. Let’s talk about who is at risk of these illnesses, how to prevent them, and what to do in case you are or you find someone who is showing signs of illness.
The CDC (2017) classifies extreme heat as summer temperatures that are much more hot and humid than average. Heat related illnesses can include heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn, and heat rash.
Everyone is at risk to extreme heat, but those who should be more cautious are older adults (age 65+), people with chronic medical conditions, outdoor workers, infants and children, low-income households, and athletes. Other factors that increase your risk include obesity, dehydration, prescription drug use, heart disease, and alcohol use.
There are very different symptoms that come along with each illness.
· Heat stroke
o Hot, red, or damp skin
o Fast strong pulse
o Confusion
o Passing out
· What to do
o Call 911 immediately. This is a medical emergency!
o Move them person to a cooler place and try to cool their temperature
o Do not give them anything to drink
· Heat exhaustion
o Heavy sweating
o Cold, pale, or clammy skin
o Fast, weak pulse
o Nausea or vomiting
· What to do
o Move to a cool place
o Sip water
o Get medical help right away if you are vomiting, your symptoms get worse, or they last longer than 1 hour
· Heat cramps
o Heavy sweating during exercise
o Muscle pain or spasms
· What to do
o Stop activity and move to a cool place
o Sip water or sports drink
o Do not continue activity until cramps have completely stopped
o Get medical help if your symptoms last longer than an hour, you are on a low sodium diet, or you have a heart condition
· Sunburn
o Painful, red, and warm skin
o Blisters on the skin
· What to do
o Stay out of the sun until the burn heals
o Apply cool cloths or take a cool bath
o Apply moisturizing lotion to burned areas
· Heat rash
o Clusters of small, red blisters that look like pimples on the skin
· What to do
o Stay in a cool dry place
o Keep the rash dry
o Use baby powder to soothe the rash
Use this link to see the full chart on what to look for and what to do when dealing with heat related illnesses https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html
Your body’s main way of cooling itself is by sweating, but when temperatures are extremely high, sweating may not be enough. What can we do protect ourselves from the heat?
Stay cool! Wear lightweight clothing in light colors, limit outdoor activity to mornings and evening when it is cooler, pace yourself when working or exercising in the heat, wear sunscreen with “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB protection,” do not leave children or pets in cars, and avoid heavy metals (CDC, 2017).
Stay Hydrated! Drink plenty of water, don’t wait until you are thirsty! Avoid sugary, alcoholic, or very cold drinks. Sip from a sport drink to replenish salt and minerals lost from the body through sweating. Don’t forget to replenish pets’ water too (CDC, 2017)!
Stay Informed! Check local news for high temperature alerts, know the signs of heat related illness and how to treat them, and monitor those at high risk (CDC, 2017).
Follow this link https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/index.html to the CDC website to learn more about extreme heat and how to stay cool this Summer!