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Safely Sweltering Protect yourself from soaring summer heat with knowledge and preparation 
As the mercury rises this summer, so does the number of heat-related illnesses. Fortunately, avoiding illness due to oppressive heat requires only a few simple steps. Dr. Richard N. Bradley, associate professor of emergency medicine and chief of EMS and disaster medicine at the University of Texas Medical School, Houston, says children and the elderly have the toughest time coping with hot weather because their bodies are more vulnerable. "The key is not to push it too hard," Dr. Bradley says. "Stay inside a building with air conditioning when you can. If your home does not have A/C go to a shopping center or library." Extreme heat can exacerbate the effects of pre-existing conditions such as heart and lung disease or mental illness. With or without a medical issue, aim to stay inside between noon and 4 p.m., which is often the hottest part of the day. Doing so is doubly beneficial since a couple hours of cooling down will refresh your body to deal with the warmth. If you must be outside, Dr. Bradley says, take precautions like drinking plenty of water, even when not thirsty, and eschewing alcohol during the day. Restrict exercise to non-midday hours and be aware of symptoms of heat-related maladies. Heat cramps are usually caused by excessive work in hot weather and are marked by muscle spasms in the calves, thighs, stomach and shoulders. Heat exhaustion is the body's response to an imbalance between salts and fluids; the body's machinery attempts to prevent further overheating through extreme sweating and an abnormal pulse, and nausea or extreme thirst may also be signs. Heat stroke is a deadly condition in which the body can no longer moderate its temperature. Though it can occur at lower body temperatures, a temperature above 104 and hot, dry skin out are telltale signs. Victims will often display disorientation or lapse into a coma. "If you suspect someone may be experiencing any of those symptoms, it's very important to get medical help right away," Dr. Bradley says. "It could mean the difference in someone surviving the heat or not." |
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