by Jim Sells, Emergency Management Coordinator

The elderly, very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at the highest risk of suffering from a heat-related injury. Even though these groups are at the greatest risk, we all are at risk to heat related injuries if we participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather. 

Heat related injuries occur when your body "radiator" is overloaded. Sweating is our body's defense mechanism from heat and cools the body as it evaporates. During extreme heat conditions and high humidity, sweating is just not enough (high humidity reduces the evaporation of sweat). The body's temperature rises rapidly overcoming the cooling effect of sweat. When the body's temperature rises rapidly overcoming its cooling system, your body's temperatures can get high enough to damage the brain or other organs.

Our body has a warning system just like our car, and when its "warning light" comes on we must take action or deal with the effects of an "overheated engine." When our body overheats is it is known as heat stoke and our body warns us of this by the following signs:

• red, hot, and dry skin (i.e. NO SWEATING)
  
• rapid, strong pulse
  
• throbbing headache
  
• dizziness
  
• nausea
  
• confusion
  
• unconsciousness

Note the difference in physical appearance between victims of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

If you notice this "warning light" in yourself or someone you are with, action must be taken quickly. Heat Stroke is a situation that requires immediate medical assistance so call 911 immediately while you begin cooling the victim. You can also:

• get the victim to a shady area
  
• cool the victim by using whatever methods you can.(such as spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose..note if the hose has been laying outside allow the water to run for a bit)
  
• monitor the body temperature and continue your cooling efforts until EMS arrives
  
• if EMS is delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions
  
• DO NOT GIVE THE VICTIM ALCOHOL TO DRINK
  
• if the victim's muscles start to twitch keep the victim from self=injury and do not give fluids
  
• if they vomit, make sure the airway remains open by turning the victim on his/her side

Often our body will give us an earlier warning prior to those of heat stroke. This is called heat exhaustion, often caused after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. This affects the elderly, those with high blood pressure, and tose working or exercising in a hot environment. Warning signs include:

• heavy sweating
  
• paleness
  
• muscle cramps
  
• tiredness
  
• weakness
  
• dizziness
  
• headache
  
• nausea or vomiting
  
• fainting

The skin is often cool and moist and the victim will have a weak and fast pulse with short, shallow breaths. To cool the body you should:

• drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages
  
• rest
  
• take a cool shower, bath or sponge bath
  
• seek and air-conditioned environment
  
• wear lightweight clothing

Remember, our summer climate often includes extremely high temperatures and high humidity, a recipe for heat problems if we do not prepare. If you are doing outside activities, try to plan these early in the morning when temperatures or coolest or at dusk. KEEP YOUR RADIATOR FULL...which means drink plenty of fluid, replace salts and minerals. We must also remember to wear sun screen (applied 30 minutes before going outside and replace per directions on the container) or face painful sunburn. If you must work outside, take plenty of breaks, use a buddy system so you can monitor each other, pace yourself, and wear appropriate clothing. If you are doing heavy exercise/work two to four glasses of cool liquid each hour helps. Again avoid alcohol since it can cause you to loose more fluids.

A note on fans...fans can help cool the body, but when temps are in the high 90's, fans cannot prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to remain cool. If your AC is out - even exposure to AC for a few hours in a mall or library can reduce the risk for heat related illness.