For many Americans, summer is a time for beach trips, cookouts, and other outdoor activities. However, it can also bring the risk of excessive heat and humidity. Here are tips to help you stay safe during excessive heat warnings during the summer months.
Watch Out for Signs of Heat-Related Illness.
Illnesses caused by excessive heat occur across a spectrum. That means mild heat stress can easily progress to heat stroke and other life-threatening conditions if you’re exposed to high temperatures for an extended period.
Mild illnesses associated with heat include heat rash and heat cramps. Both can be caused by excessive sweating. Drinking cool fluids and cooling your body can help. When health illnesses progress to exhaustion, you’ll be in a serious condition. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include;
- Excessive sweating
- Dizziness
- Feeling weak
- Nausea
- Headache
- Thirst
Note that exhaustion is a symptom of your body losing the ability to achieve and maintain a stable core temperature. An immediate action such as shifting to a cool and air-conditioned area, loosening your clothes, applying wet cloths, and drinking fluids can help prevent heat exhaustion from progressing to heat stroke or other dangerous heat-related illnesses.
Heat stroke means your body cannot maintain a stable temperature. When you suffer a heat stroke, your body will most likely reach 106 degrees Fahrenheit or even higher. This condition can quickly damage your kidneys, brain, and heart.
If you suffer a heat stroke, it means that your body has exhausted its ability to sweat. Your cognitive ability begins to fail, and you can’t move yourself away from danger. It can also cause seizures or put you in a coma when your core temperature rises. If you don’t get immediate medical attention and your core temperature continues to rise, heat stroke may become fatal.
Know when the Heat is Dangerously High.
The risk of excessive heat isn’t about temperature. Humidity can also heighten the risk of illnesses related to heat waves. This is because humidity affects how well sweating can keep your body cool during hot periods.
When planning an outdoor activity, check the heat index instead of the temperature. Heat index shows the risk of heat illness associated with various temperature levels and relative humidity. Remember, it doesn’t take extremely high humidity or temperature for the heat index to reach dangerous levels.
When there’s an Excessive Heat Warning…
Stay cool and avoid prolonged exposure to heat. Avoid strenuous activities outdoors and stay hydrated. You can also find a cooling center or community center where you can access a sir-conditioned space. Remember, you should be careful with fans. They can be helpful when the temperature isn’t too high, as they wick away sweat and induce evaporative cooling.
However, at extremely high temperatures, fans can accelerate heat buildup in your body, which can cause heat-related illnesses.