Extreme Heat
Be prepared with tips about heat exhaustion treatment and heat stroke treatment
Summer is a great time to go swimming and enjoy the sun, but this comes with caution. Extreme heat − or five days in a row of temperatures that are 9 degrees above normal − can cause dangerous health issues. However, you can plan ahead to protect yourself and your family.
For your home
Consider making these changes to your home to keep it cool during hot weather:
-
Install central air conditioning or window air conditioners
snugly
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Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation
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Weather-strip doors and windows to keep cool air inside
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Use window treatments, such as shades and awnings, to keep extreme heat
outside
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Keep storm windows up all year
- Install temporary window reflectors to reflect heat back outside
For your family
Prevention is the key for heat exhaustion protection. During a heat emergency:
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Stay indoors as much as possible, and limit exposure to sun
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If you don't have air conditioning, visit somewhere that does, such as
a pubic library or shopping mall
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If you need to perform physical work or work out, try to save it for
early morning or evening hours.
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Stay on the lowest floor out of sunshine
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Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol; eat well-balanced, light and
regular meals
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Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes that
cover as much skin as possible; wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your
face and neck from the sun
-
Make certain your pets have a cool place to rest along with plenty of
water
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Never leave children or pets in closed vehicles
- It's especially important to watch older adults, young children and those who are sick or overweight because they're the most likely to suffer from heat cramps, exhaustion or stroke.
Heat cramps
Occur with muscle pain and spasms start due to overuse. (Normally involving the abdominal muscles or legs)
Treatment:
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Have victim rest in comfortable position
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Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids
- Give the victim half a glass of cool water every 15 minutes; don't give liquids that have alcohol or caffeine in them
Heat exhaustion
- Occurs when people exercise or work in a hot, humid place
- Blood flow to the skin increases, restricting blood flow to vital organs causing the victim to go into mild shock
- If not treated, the victim will continue to get worse and may suffer heat stroke.
Treatment:
-
Get the victim out of the heat and into a cooler place
-
Loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or
sheets
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Give the victim half a glass of water every 15 minutes, and have the
individual drink it slowly; don't give liquids that have alcohol or
caffeine in them
- Let the victim rest
Heat stroke
- A life-threatening condition
- The victim's control system that produces sweating to cool the body stops working
- When this happens, a victim's body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result.
Treatment:
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Call 911 or your local emergency number
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Move the victim to a cooler place and quickly cool the body
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Immerse the victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around him/her
and fan the body
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Watch for breathing problems
-
Continue to have the victim lie down and continuously try to cool the
body
- If the victim is vomiting, fading in and out of consciousness or refuses water, don't give the individual anything to eat or drink
This extreme heat information is meant to help you make decisions that may reduce your risk. Of course, we can't note every possible risk, and we can't guarantee that these tips will work for you. However, we hope that if you use some of them, you'll better protect your family and yourself.
