Stay safe in the summer sun

Summer took its time arriving this year but, once it did get here, the temperatures soared seemingly overnight. While the forecast still shows a few potential storms on the horizon, the hot weather appears to be sticking around for now.

With that in mind, and with a “heat dome” covering part of the nation recently and heatwaves across the world, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued guidance on how to spot heat-related illness and how to prevent them from occurring.

More than 700 people die from extreme heat each year in the United States, caused by the body being unable to compensate for the temperature and properly cool you off. High humidity and personal factors such as age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn and prescription drug or alcohol use can all affect your body’s ability to cool itself.

There are various types of heat-related illness and the best steps to take differ with each one.

Heat stroke symptoms are typified by hot, red, dry or damp skin, as well as a high body temperature and a fast, strong pulse. The person may also experience headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and loss of consciousness.

In the event of heat stroke, call 911 because this is a medical emergency. Move the person to a cooler place and help lower their temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath, shower or even garden hose, but do not give them anything to drink.

In the event of heatstroke, a person’s body temperature can rapidly rise above 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Monitor and continue cooling efforts until temperature drops to 101-102 degrees.

A person suffering from heat exhaustion, on the other hand, will tend to sweat heavily and have cold, pale and clammy skin with a fast, weak pulse. They may also experience nausea or vomiting, muscle cramps, tiredness or weakness, dizziness, headache and fainting.

In the event of heat exhaustion, move the person to a cool place and loosen their clothes. Use cool, wet cloths or a cool bath to lower body temperature and sip water.

Medical help is needed if the person is vomiting, symptoms worsen or symptoms last longer than an hour.

Heat cramps involve heavy sweating during intense exercise and muscle pain or spasms. In this case, stop physical activity and move to a cool place, drink water or a sports drink and wait for the cramps to subside before resuming physical activity.

If the cramps last longer than an hour, you are on a low-sodium diet or you have heart problems, seek medical help.

Sunburn involves painful, red and warm skin and sometimes blisters. Keep out of the sun until it heals, use cool cloths or a cool bath to soothe the affected areas, use moisturizing lotion and do not break the blisters.

Heat rash causes red clusters of small blister that looks like pimples. Stay in a cool, dry place, keep the rash dry and use powder to soothe the rash.

Those at highest risk are people aged 65 and above or two and below and people with chronic diseases or mental illness.

Protective actions include to stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible (do not rely on a fan during an extreme heat event), to drink more water than usual rather than waiting until you are thirsty, to check on friends and neighbors and have someone check on you and to limit use of the stove and oven.

Take cool showers or baths to cool down. Limit outdoor activity, especially in the middle of the day, and pace yourself with activities. Wear loose, lightweight clothing, always wear sunscreen and schedule workouts and practices earlier or later in the day.