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 What to do when
the temperature is rising:
Tips for staying cool during intense heat periods:
1. Stay out of the sun
Avoid going outside during the hottest part of the day, noon to 4 p.m.
2. Limit your activity
Reserve vigorous exercise or activities for early morning or evening.
3. Dress properly
Wear a large-brimmed hat and light-colored, light-weight, loose-fitting
clothing that breathes. Don't go shirtless--a sweaty shirt will keep you
cooler than bare skin.
4. Drink plenty of liquids
Fluids help you sweat, which is your body's way of cooling off. Drink lots
of water, juice or sports drinks. Avoid alcoholic or caffeinated drinks that
promote fluid loss through urination.
5. Avoid hot, heavy meals
They increase your metabolism, causing an increase in your body temperature.
6. Keep it cool
Set your air conditioner between 75 and 80 degrees F. If you don't have an
air conditioner, take a cool bath or shower once or twice a day and visit
air-conditioned public places.
7. Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are painful spasms of muscles along with profuse perspiration,
and occur most often during exercise in high temperatures. The muscles most
affected are usually the ones you are using during your exercise or your
abdominal muscles. You can usually resolve the symptoms by resting and
drinking water mixed with a teaspoon of salt per quart.
8. Sunburn
Prolonged exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays produces red, tender,
swollen skin that may develop water blisters. Severe cases of sun and heat
exposure can result in more serious consequences needing emergency care.
Sunburn happens relatively slowly, but can be treated adequately at home
with a cool bath or shower followed by the application of hydrocortisone
cream several times a day. Do not break the water blisters, but if they
break on their own, remove the skin fragments and use an antibacterial
ointment on the open areas. Dress them with clean gauze. Taking aspirin
several times daily will help alleviate the general discomfort and may
reduce swelling.
9. Heat Stroke
The main indication of heat stroke is a fever of 105 degrees Fahrenheit with
hot, dry skin. Other signs include rapid heartbeat, rapid and shallow
breathing, either elevated or lowered blood pressure, and confusion or
unconsciousness. If you suspect heat stroke, get the person out of the sun
and into a cool spot.
Cool the person by covering him or her with damp sheets or spraying with
water. Direct air onto the person with a fan or a newspaper, and monitor the
person's temperature with a thermometer. Stop cooling the person when his or
her temperature returns to normal. If breathing ceases, start mouth-to-mouth
resuscitation. Heat stroke is an emergency that needs immediate medical
attention.
10. Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion occurs when your heart and vascular system do not respond
properly to high temperatures. The symptoms of heat exhaustion resemble
shock and include faintness, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure, an ashen
appearance, cold clammy skin, and nausea.
If you suspect heat exhaustion, get the person out of the sun and into a
cool spot. Lay the person down and elevate his or her feet slightly. Loosen
or remove most or all of the person's clothing. Give the person cold (not
iced) water to drink, with a teaspoon of salt added per quart.
11. Heat Rash
To prevent heat rash, also known as prickly heat, use an air conditioner or
fan and dress lightly, preferable in clothing made from pure cotton. Cotton
allows sweat to evaporate more easily than most synthetic fibers. If you do
get heat rash, taking frequent baths in lukewarm water can help relieve
symptoms. Calamine lotion may also help.
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Preparing for and coping with heat
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.
Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter
for information on extreme heat.
Install window air conditioners snugly.
Close any floor heat registers nearby.
Insulate spaces around air conditioners for a tighter fit.
Use a circulating or box fan to spread the cool air.
Keep heat outside and cool air inside.
Install temporary reflectors, such as aluminum foil covered cardboard, to
reflect any heat back outside. Keep the cool air inside by weather-stripping
doors and windowsills.
Consider keeping storm windows up all year. Storm windows can keep the heat
of a house in the summer the same way they keep the cold out in the winter.
Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.
Tips for coping during a heat wave
Protect windows. Hang shades, draperies, awnings, or louvers on windows that
receive morning or afternoon sun. Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the
heat entering the house by as much as 80 percent. Conserve electricity.
During periods of extreme heat, people tend to use a lot more power for air
conditioning which can lead to a power shortage or outage stay indoors as
much as possible. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest
floor out of the sunshine. Remember that electric fans do not cool, they
just blow hot air around.
Eat well-balanced, light meals.
Drink plenty of water regularly. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney,
or liver disease; are on fluid-restrictive diets; or have a problem with
fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
Limit intake of alcoholic beverages. Although beer and alcohol beverages
appear to satisfy thirst, they actually cause further body dehydration.
Dress in loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
Lightweight, light-colored clothing that reflects heat and sunlight and
helps maintain normal body temperature.
Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
Allow your body to get acclimated to hot temperatures for the first 2 or 3
days of a heat wave.
Avoid too much sunshine. Sunburn slows the skin's ability to cool itself.
Use a sunscreen lotion with a high SPF (sun protection factor) rating.
Avoid extreme temperature changes. A cool shower immediately after coming in
from hot temperatures can result in hypothermia, particularly for elderly
and very young people.
Slow down. Reduce, eliminate, or reschedule strenuous activities. High-risk
individuals should stay in cool places. Get plenty of rest to allow your
natural "cooling system" to work.
Take salt tablets only if specified by your physician. Persons on
salt-restrictive diets should check with a physician before increasing salt
intake.
Vacuum air conditioner filters weekly during periods of high use.
Learn the symptoms of heat disorders and know how to give first aid.
Heat Disorders
The following information should NOT be relied upon for personal diagnosis
or treatment of any medical conditions. If you have medical questions,
please contact your healthcare provider. If you need medical assistance,
please contact a medical provider or call 9-1-1
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Sunburn
Symptoms: Skin redness and pain, possible swelling, blisters, fever,
headaches.
First Aid: Take a shower, using soap, to remove oils that may block pores
preventing the body from cooling naturally. If blisters occur, apply dry,
sterile dressings and get medical attention.
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Heat Cramps
Symptoms: Painful spasms usually in leg and abdominal muscles. Heavy
sweating.
First Aid: Firm pressure on cramping muscles or gentle massage to relieve
spasm. Give sips of water. If nausea occurs, discontinue.
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Heat Exhaustion
Symptoms: Heavy sweating, weakness, skin cold, pale and clammy. Weak pulse.
Normal temperature possible. Fainting, vomiting.
First Aid: Get victim to lie down in a cool place. Loosen clothing. Apply
cool, wet cloths. Fan or move victim to air-conditioned place. Give sips of
water. If nausea occurs, discontinue. If vomiting occurs, seek immediate
medical attention.
Heat Stroke
Symptoms: High body temperature (106+). Hot, dry skin. Rapid, strong pulse.
Possible unconsciousness. Victim will likely not sweat.
First Aid: Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency. Call 9-1-1 or
emergency medical services or get the victim to a hospital immediately.
Delay can be fatal. Move victim to a cooler environment. Try a cool bath or
sponging to reduce body temperature. Use extreme caution. Remove clothing.
Use fans and/or air conditioners. DO NOT GIVE FLUIDS.
National Weather Service information on heat
Why are Heat Waves so dangerous?
Heat kills by taxing the human body beyond its abilities. In a normal year,
about 175 Americans succumb to the demands of summer heat. Among the large
continental family of natural hazards, only the cold of winter - not
lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or earthquakes - takes a greater
toll. In the 40-year period from 1936 through 1975, nearly 20,000 people
were killed in the United States by the effects of heat and solar radiation.
In the disastrous heat wave of 1980, more than 1,250 people died. And these
are the direct casualties. No one can know how many more deaths are advanced
by heat wave weather - how many diseased or aging hearts surrender that
under better conditions would have continued functioning.
Thanks to FEMA and the National Weather Service for providing these tips.
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