July 12, 2024 | Is it the heat or the humidity that you should worry about this time of year? Turns out it’s both. People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to compensate and properly cool themselves. The body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some conditions, sweating just isn’t enough. In such cases, a person’s body temperature rises rapidly. Very high body temperatures may damage the brain or other vital organs. Several factors affect the body’s ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather. When the humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly. Other conditions related to risk include age, obesity, fever, dehydration, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use. Because heat-related deaths are preventable, people need to be aware of who is at greatest risk and what actions can be taken to prevent a heat-related illness or death.

July 12, 2024 | Extreme heat is defined as summertime temperatures that are substantially hotter or more humid than average for the location at that time of year. Humid or muggy conditions occur when a “dome” of high atmospheric pressure traps hazy, damp air near the ground. Summertime activity, whether on the playing field or the construction site, must be balanced with measures that aid the body’s cooling mechanisms and prevent heat-related illness. The elderly, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at the highest risk for a heat-related illness. However, even young and healthy individuals can succumb to heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather. Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death. If a home is not air-conditioned, people can reduce their risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned.

July 12, 2024 | Children don’t adapt as well as adults do to exercise in hot, humid weather. They produce more heat, sweat less and are less likely to drink enough fluids during exercise, all of which increase their risk of dehydration. Dehydration can lead to illnesses like heat cramps and heatstroke. Children who play sports that start in late summer, such as football, soccer and cross-country, may be at risk of developing dehydration and heat-related illnesses. Although thirst is one indicator of dehydration, it’s not an early warning sign. By the time a child is thirsty, he or she is already dehydrated. Some of the symptoms of dehydration are a dizzy or lightheaded feeling, reduced production of urine or urine that is dark yellow instead of clear or light yellow. If your child is dehydrated, have him or her rest in a cool room or shady area and give them cool, but not icy, water or a sports beverage. A sodium-containing sports beverage may be particularly helpful for heat cramps.

July 12, 2024 | Heat stroke involves injury to internal organs caused by an excessively high body temperature. As serious as this illness is, it can usually be prevented. Athletes are particularly vulnerable to heat stroke, especially football players, who wear body-covering uniforms and practice in hot temperatures, but it can affect anyone. Older adults, people who are obese and people born with an impaired ability to sweat are at high risk of heat stroke. While it shares many of the symptoms of other heat illnesses, heat stroke is life threatening because the body’s normal mechanisms for dealing with heat stress, such as sweating and temperature control, are lost. The main signs of heat stroke are an extremely high body temperature, above 103 degrees Fahrenheit and red, dry skin. A person who may be suffering from heat stroke should be moved out of the sun and into a cool space and immediately seen by a medical professional.

July 12, 2024 | Heat exhaustion is a mild heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. It is the body’s response to an excessive loss of the water and salt contained in sweat. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people who work or exercise in a hot environment. Some of the signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting. If heat exhaustion is left untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. If you know of someone who may be suffering from heat exhaustion, lay the person down in a cool setting and elevate their legs and feet slightly. It’s a good idea to loosen or remove the person’s clothing. Have them drink cool water, not iced, or a sports drink containing electrolytes. If their fever exceeds 102 degrees, or fainting occurs, call for emergency medical assistance.