Protect Yourself From Heat Related Illnesses

by Heather McLaughlin

With summer in full swing and temperatures rising throughout the US, you want to be sure to protect yourself from getting heat releated illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Here are a few tips for your safety in the “Dog Days of Summer.”

• Drink plenty of water. Don’t wait till you “feel thirsty” to have a tall glass of refreshing water. Avoid beverages that have alcohol or are high in sugar and caffiene. These drinks will actually cause you to lose more body fluid.
• Try to stay indoors in air conditioning. If you don’t have air, consider a visit to a movie theater, the mall or a public library. Even a couple of hours spent in a cooler environment will help your body deal with the heat. Fans may provide some comfort, but since they just circulate hot air, they aren’t a real solution to heat.
• Never leave Pets or Children in Cars. Not even for a minute, not even with the car windows down. The interior of cars can quickly reach temps of 100+ degrees and no living creature should be left in one.
• Wear light colored, loose fitting clothes Darker colors absorb the sun, instead of reflecting and make the heat more uncomfortable.

If you work in the sun and can’t avoid the outdoors, you’ll want to protect yourself as much as you can from the heat. Wear a hat to protect your head from the sun (this will help to keep your body temps cooler) and use a high SPF sunscreen to protect your skin against harmful UV rays. It’s also wise to keep your body well hydrated with water. If you need to take a break, find a shady area to rest.

The elderly and small children are at the greatest risk for heat related illnesses, although it can happen to anyone. Here are the symptoms and treatments for heat illnesses:

Headaches, dizziness, nausea, pale skin are symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat cramps. Get the person to lie down and SLOWLY drink cool water. If the person refuses, vomits or loses consciousness, call 9-1-1.

Vomiting, loss of consciousness, high body temperature, hot and dry skin, rapid weak pulse or rapid shallow breathin are symptoms of a heat stroke. Call 9-1-1 immediately if you suspect this, as heat stroke can prove deadly.

Monitor your outdoor time wisely and stay safe!