Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety
June 29, 2011
Recommended from Lee's Summit Fire Department
HIGHLIGHTS
- Elderly people (65 years and older), infants and
children and people with chronic medical conditions are more prone to heat
stress.
- Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor
against heat-related illness and death. During conditions of extreme heat,
spend time in locations with air-conditioning such as shopping malls,
public libraries, or public health sponsored heat-relief shelters in your
area.
- Get informed. Listen to local news and weather channels
or contact your local public health department during extreme heat
conditions for health and safety updates
- Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages and increase your
fluid intake, regardless of your activity level.
Heat-related deaths and illness are
preventable yet annually many people succumb to extreme heat. Historically,
from 1979-2003, excessive heat exposure caused 8,015 deaths in the United
States. During this period, more people in this country died from extreme heat
than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined.
In 2001, 300 deaths were caused by excessive heat exposure.
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, heart
disease, 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. The elderly,
the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at highest
risk. 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.
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. This pamphlet
tells how you can prevent, recognize, and cope with heat-related health
problems.
What Is Extreme Heat?
Conditions of extreme heat are
defined as summertime temperatures that are substantially hotter and/or more
humid than average for location at that time of year. Humid or muggy
conditions, which add to the discomfort of high temperatures, occur when a
"dome" of high atmospheric pressure traps hazy, damp air near the ground.
Extremely dry and hot conditions can provoke dust storms and low visibility.
Droughts occur when a long period passes without substantial rainfall. A heat
wave combined with a drought is a very dangerous situation.
During Hot Weather
To protect your health when temperatures are extremely high,
remember to keep cool and use common sense. The following tips are important:
Drink Plenty of Fluids
During hot weather you will need to
increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. Don't wait until
you're thirsty to drink. During heavy exercise in a hot environment, drink two
to four glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool fluids each hour.
Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you
drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the
weather is hot.
Don't drink liquids that contain
alcohol, or large amounts of sugar—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. These are necessary for your body and must be replaced.
If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic fluids
each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat.
However, if you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a
sports beverage or taking salt tablets.
Wear Appropriate Clothing and Sunscreen
Wear as little clothing as possible
when you are at home. Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting
clothing. Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool itself and causes a loss
of body fluids. It also causes pain and damages the skin. If you must go
outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also
keeps you cooler) along with sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15
or higher (the most effective products say "broad spectrum" or
"UVA/UVB protection" on their labels) 30 minutes prior to going out.
Continue to reapply it according to the package directions.
Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully
If you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity
to morning and evening hours. Try to rest often in shady areas so that your
body's thermostat will have a chance to recover.
Pace Yourself
If you are not accustomed to working
or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace
gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you
gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or at least into
the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or
faint.
Stay Cool Indoors
Stay indoors and, if at all
possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. 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. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief
shelters in your area. Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the
temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness.
Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much
better way to cool off. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler
temperature in your home.
Use a Buddy System
When working in the heat, monitor
the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you.
Heat-induced 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 in
this age group, 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 are sensitive to the effects
of high temperatures and rely on others to regulate their environments and
provide adequate liquids.
- People 65 years of age or older may not compensate for
heat stress efficiently and are less likely to sense and respond to change
in temperature.
- People who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness
because of their tendency to retain more body heat.
- People who overexert during work or exercise may become
dehydrated and susceptible to heat sickness.
- People who are physically ill, especially with heart
disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as
for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation, may be affected by extreme
heat.
Visit adults at risk at least twice a
day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants
and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.
Adjust to the Environment
Be aware that any sudden change in
temperature, such as an early summer heat wave, will be stressful to your body.
You will have a greater tolerance for heat if you limit your physical activity
until you become accustomed to the heat. If you travel to a hotter climate,
allow several days to become acclimated before attempting any vigorous
exercise, and work up to it gradually.
Do Not Leave Children in Cars
Even in cool temperatures, cars can
heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. Even with the windows cracked
open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the
first 10 minutes. Anyone left inside is at risk for serious heat-related
illnesses or even death. Children who are left unattended in parked cars are at
greatest risk for heat stroke, and possibly death. When traveling with
children, remember to do the following:
- Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car,
even if the windows are cracked open.
- To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a
stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the
stuffed animal in the front with the driver.
- When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out
of the car. Do not overlook any children who have fallen asleep in the
car.
Use Common Sense
Remember to keep cool and use common
sense:
- Avoid hot foods and heavy meals—they add heat to your
body.
- Drink plenty of fluids and replace salts and minerals
in your body. Do not take salt tablets unless under medical supervision.
- Dress infants and children in cool, loose clothing and
shade their heads and faces with hats or an umbrella.
- Limit sun exposure during mid-day hours and in places
of potential severe exposure such as beaches.
- Do not leave infants, children, or pets in a parked
car.
- Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets, and leave
the water in a shady area.
Hot Weather Health Emergencies
Even short
periods of high temperatures can cause serious health problems. During hot
weather health emergencies, keep informed by listening to local weather and
news channels or contact local health departments for health and safety
updates. Doing too much on a hot day, spending too much time in the sun or
staying too long in an overheated place can cause heat-related illnesses. Know
the symptoms of heat disorders and overexposure to the sun, and be ready to
give first aid treatment.
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke occurs when the body is
unable to regulate its temperature. The body's temperature rises rapidly, the
sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature
may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause
death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.
Recognizing
Heat Stroke
Warning signs of heat stroke vary
but may include the following:
- An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F,
orally)
- Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
- Rapid, strong pulse
- Throbbing headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Unconsciousness
What
to Do
If you see any of these signs, you
may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for
immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the
following:
- Get the victim to a shady area.
- Cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can.
For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person
in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose;
sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the
victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
- Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts
until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.
- If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the
hospital emergency room for further instructions.
- Do not give the victim fluids to drink.
- Get medical assistance as soon as possible.
Sometimes a victim's muscles will
begin to twitch uncontrollably as a result of heat stroke. If this happens,
keep the victim from injuring himself, but do not place any object in the mouth
and do not give fluids. If there is vomiting, make sure the airway remains open
by turning the victim on his or her side.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat
exhaustion is a milder form of 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 working or
exercising in a hot environment.
Recognizing
Heat Exhaustion
Warning signs of heat exhaustion
include the following:
- Heavy sweating
- Paleness
- Muscle cramps
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fainting
The skin may be cool and moist. The
victim's pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and
shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek
medical attention immediately if any of the following occurs:
- Symptoms are severe
- The victim has heart problems or high blood pressure
Otherwise, help the victim to cool
off, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour.
What
to Do
Cooling measures that may be
effective include the following:
- Cool, nonalcoholic beverages
- Rest
- Cool shower, bath, or sponge bath
- An air-conditioned environment
- Lightweight clothing
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps usually affect people
who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body's
salt and moisture. The low salt level in the muscles may be the cause of heat
cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.
Recognizing
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are muscle pains or
spasms—usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs—that may occur in association with
strenuous activity. If you have heart problems or are on a low-sodium diet, get
medical attention for heat cramps.
What
to Do
If medical attention is not
necessary, take these steps:
- Stop all activity, and sit quietly in a cool place.
- Drink clear juice or a sports beverage.
- Do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours
after the cramps subside, because further exertion may lead to heat
exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Seek medical attention for heat cramps if they do not
subside in 1 hour.
Sunburn
Sunburn should be avoided because it
damages the skin. Although the discomfort is usually minor and healing often occurs in about a week, a more severe sunburn may require
medical attention.
Recognizing
Sunburn
Symptoms of sunburn are well known:
the skin becomes red, painful, and abnormally warm after sun exposure.
What
to Do
Consult a doctor if the sunburn
affects an infant younger than 1 year of age or if these symptoms are present:
- Fever
- Fluid-filled blisters
- Severe pain
Also, remember these tips when
treating sunburn:
- Avoid repeated sun exposure.
- Apply cold compresses or immerse the sunburned area in
cool water.
- Apply moisturizing lotion to affected areas. Do not use
salve, butter, or ointment.
- Do not break blisters.
Heat Rash
Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating
during hot, humid weather. It can occur at any age but is most common in young
children.
Recognizing
Heat Rash
Heat rash looks like a red cluster
of pimples or small blisters. It is more likely to occur on the neck and upper
chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases.
What
to Do
The best treatment for heat rash is
to provide a cooler, less humid environment. Keep the affected area dry.
Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort.
Treating heat rash is simple and
usually does not require medical assistance. Other heat-related problems can be
much more severe.
This information provided by NCEH's Health
Studies Branch.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp
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