About Extreme Heat
Heat-related
deaths and illnesses are preventable. Despite this, more than 600 people in the
United States are killed by extreme heat every year.
What is
Extreme Heat?
Extreme heat
occurs when temperatures are much hotter than normal. Humid and muggy
conditions can make it seem hotter than it really is. Because some places are
hotter than others, describing the weather as extremely hot depends
on what’s average for a particular location during the hottest time of the
year.
What
Causes Heat-Related Illness?
Heat-related
illness, like heat exhaustion or heat stroke, happens when your body is not
able to cool itself properly. Although the body normally cools itself by
sweating, during extreme heat, sweating might not be enough. When your body
isn’t fully cooled by sweating, your body temperature rises faster than your
body can cool itself down. This can damage your brain and other vital organs.
Who
is Most at Risk?
Older adults,
the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at
highest risk. However, even young and healthy people can be affected if they
take part in strenuous physical activities during hot weather.
Balance
summertime activity, whether on the playing field or the construction site,
with actions that help the body cool itself to prevent heat-related illness.
Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness
 Stay Cool
Wear the
Right Clothing: Choose
lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
Stay
Cool Indoors:
Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as you can. If your home does not
have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library. Even a few
hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go
back into the heat.
Pace
Yourself:
Cut down on exercise when it's hot. If you’re not used to working or
exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually.
If working or exercising in the heat makes your heart pound and
leaves you gasping for breath, STOP. Get into a cool area or into the shade,
and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.
Schedule
Outdoor Activities Carefully:
Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it's coolest.
Wear
sunscreen:
Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated.
If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a
wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15
or higher 30 minutes before going out, reapplying as needed.
Don't
Leave Children or Pets in Cars:
Never leave a child or a pet in a hot car. Cars can quickly heat up to
dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. While anyone left in
a parked car is at risk, children and pets are especially at risk of
getting a heat stroke or dying.
Avoid
Hot and Heavy Meals:
They add heat to your body!
|
 Stay Hydrated
Drink
Plenty of Fluids:
Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don't wait until you're
thirsty to drink.
Stay
Away from Very Sugary or Alcoholic Drinks: These actually cause you to lose
more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach
cramps.
Replace
Salt and Minerals:
Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be
replaced. Drink a sports drink to replace the salt and
minerals you lose in sweat.
Keep
Your Pets Hydrated:
Give your pets plenty of fresh water, and leave the water in a shady area.
|
 Stay Informed
Check
for Updates: Check
your local news for extreme heat alerts and safety tips and to learn about
any cooling shelters in your area.
Know the
Signs: Learn the
signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.
Use
a Buddy System:
When you work in the heat, monitor the condition of your coworkers and have
someone do the same for you. Heat-related illness can cause a person to
become confused or lose consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older,
have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat
wave. If you know someone 65 or older, check on them at least twice a day.
Monitor
Those at High Risk:
Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people
are at greater risk than others:
- Infants and young children
- People 65 years of age or
older
- People who are overweight
- People who overexert during
work or exercise
- People with a chronic
disease, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure; mental
illness; or who take medications for depression, insomnia, or poor
circulation.
|
Visit adults
at risk at least twice a day and watch them closely for signs of heat
exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children need much more frequent
watching.
