Hot Weather Safety - tips to beat the heat

Here comes the heat Washington!  While many of us are looking forward to some fun in the sun, it’s also a time to be mindful of the dangers posed by extreme heat, especially for the elderly, children and pets.

To help you deal with the heat, check out these tips from the Washington State Department of Health.

• Stay indoors and in an air-conditioned environment as much as possible unless you're sure your body has a high tolerance for heat.
• Drink plenty of fluids but avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine or a lot of sugar.
• Eat more frequently but make sure meals are balanced and light.
• Never leave any person or pet in a parked vehicle.
• Avoid dressing babies in heavy clothing or wrapping them in warm blankets.
• Check frequently on people who are elderly, ill or may need help. If you might need help, arrange to have family, friends or neighbors check in with you at least twice a day throughout warm weather periods.
• Make sure pets have plenty of water.
• Salt tablets should only be taken if specified by your doctor. If you are on a salt-restrictive diet, check with a doctor before increasing salt intake.
• If you take prescription diuretics, antihistamines, mood-altering or antispasmodic drugs, check with a doctor about the effects of sun and heat exposure.
• Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun. Awnings or louvers can reduce the heat entering a house by as much as 80 percent.

• Plan strenuous outdoor activities for early or late in the day when temperatures are cooler; then gradually build up tolerance for warmer conditions.
• Take frequent breaks when working outdoors.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sun block and light-colored, loose-fitting clothes when outdoors.
• At first signs of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps), move to a cooler location, rest for a few minutes and slowly drink a cool beverage. Seek medical attention immediately if you do not feel better.
• Avoid sunburn: it 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 or very young people.

• If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine.
• Ask your doctor about any prescription medicine you keep refrigerated. (If the power goes out, most medicine will be fine to leave in a closed refrigerator for at least 3 hours.)
• Keep a few bottles of water in your freezer; if the power goes out, move them to your refrigerator and keep the doors shut.

 

Extreme heat is uncomfortable for all of us, but older persons are among the most susceptible to heat-related illness and deaths. With age we lose some of our ability to adapt to the heat. Also, certain medications interfere with the body’s ability to handle heat, and some older people have mobility limitations that may prevent them from getting relief during high heat. Extreme heat kills more Americans each year than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes and floods combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

During heat waves people are susceptible to three heat-related conditions. Check out the American Red Cross for tips on how to recognize and respond to heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.