Beating The Heat

Health officials are advising New Yorkers to be on the lookout for symptoms of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn and heat rash. Anyone is susceptible to heat-stress, but those who are at greatest risk include:

-Infants and children up to four years of age are sensitive to the effects of high temperatures and rely on others to regulate their environments and provide adequate liquids.

-People 65 years of age or older may not compensate for heat stress efficiently and are less likely to sense and respond to change in temperature.

-People who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness because of their tendency to retain more body heat.

-People who overexert during work or exercise may become dehydrated and susceptible to heat sickness.

-People who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation, may be affected by extreme heat.

-Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.

Stages of Heat-Related Illness (from the web site of the American Red Cross)
Heat-related illness usually comes in stages. The signal of the first stage is heat cramps in muscles. These cramps can be very painful.

If you are caring for a person who has heat cramps, have him or her stop activity and rest. If the person is fully awake and alert, have him or her drink small amounts of cool water or a commercial sports drink. Gently stretch the cramped muscle and hold the stretch for about 20 seconds, then gently massage the muscle. Repeat these steps if necessary.

If the victim has no other signals of heat-related illness, the person may resume activity after the cramps stop.
The signals of the next, more serious stage of a heat-related illness (often called heat exhaustion) include--
-Cool, moist, pale skin (the skin may be red right after physical activity).
-Headache.
-Dizziness and weakness or exhaustion.
-Nausea.
-The skin may or may not feel hot.

The signals of the late stage of a heat-related illness (often called heat stroke) include--
-Vomiting.
-Decreased alertness level or complete loss of consciousness.
-High body temperature (sometimes as high as 105^oF)

-Skin may still be moist or the victim may stop sweating and the skin may be red, hot and dry.
-Rapid, weak pulse.
-Rapid, shallow breathing.

This late stage of a heat-related illness is life threatening. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

Here are some tips to protect yourself and those you care about:

Drinking Plenty of Fluids -- Increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. Avoid alcohol and sugar-saturated drinks.

Replacing Salt and Minerals -- Constant sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. If you're outdoors or exercising replace your fluids w/ two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. However, if you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.

Wear Appropriate Clothing and Sunscreen -- Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. In addition to pain and skin damage, sunburn disrupts your body's ability to cool itself and causes a loss of body fluids. If you're outdoors, wear a brimmed hat, sunglasses, and put on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out. Reapply it according to the package directions.

Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully -- If you're outdoors, pace yourself. Try limiting your activity to morning and evening hours. Look for shaded areas to keep cool. Stop activity when your heart pounds, you begin gasping, or feel faint or nauseous.

Stay Cool Indoors -- Stay indoors in an air-conditioned area whenever possible. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to a public area that does (shopping mall, public library) A few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area. While electric fans may provide comfort, when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. A cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a better bet. Limit the stove and oven use to keep a cooler temperature in your home.

Use a Buddy System -- When you're out in the heat, watch the condition of your companions and have someone do the same for you. If you're 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.

Don't leave the vulnerable in cars! -- Even in cool temperatures, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. Even with the windows cracked, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees within the first 10 minutes. Unattended children and pets are at risk for serious heat-related illnesses or even death.

Remember, even young and healthy individuals can succumb to heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather. Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death.

DUE TO THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY USAGE DURING THIS HEAT WAVE, PLEASE USE THE TIPS BELOW TO STAY COOL AND CONSERVE ENERGY:
-Close blinds or shades on sunny windows, but open windows to take advantage of natural ventilation when conditions permit – especially during cool morning or evening hours.

-Set the air-conditioning thermostat just a few degrees higher. Each degree above 75° F saves you 3 percent of the energy used to cool your home.

-Turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas.

-Run household appliances such as dishwasher and dryers at "off-peak" (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters.

-Keep doors closed when it is hotter outside than inside. Open them up again in the evening or morning when it is cooler outside.

-Turn it off – Save electricity and reduce waste heat by shutting off lights and home electronics, especially computers, while not in use. Televisions, cable television boxes, computers, cell phone chargers and other electronics give off far more waste heat than you might imagine.

IMPORTANT LINKS TO HELP YOU DEAL WITH THE HEAT WAVE:
AMERICAN RED CROSS

AMERICAN RED CROSS - Beach and Ocean Safety
NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

IMPORTANT TIPS AND LINKS REGARDING SWIMMING SAFETY:

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS - Pool Safety for Children

-Never leave children alone in or near the pool.
-Put up a fence, at least 4 feet high around all sides, to separate your house from the pool. Also, use gates that self-close and self-latch, with latches higher than your child's reach.
-Use a power safety cover that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials, but not in place of the fence.
-Keep rescue equipment and a telephone by the pool.
-Do not let your child use air-filled "swimming aids" because they are not a substitute for approved life vests.
-Have anyone watching children around a pool learn CPR; and stay within an arm's length of your child.
-Remove all toys from the pool after use so children are not tempted to reach for them.
-Secure pool when children are done swimming so they cannot get back in.

AMERICAN RED CROSS - Beach and Ocean Safety

-Learn to swim.
-Stay within the designated swimming area, ideally within the visibility of a lifeguard
-Swim with others.
-Check surf conditions before entering the water; check to see if a warning flag is up or check with a lifeguard for water conditions, beach conditions, or any potential hazards.
-Stay away from piers, pilings, and diving platforms when in the water.
-Keep a lookout for aquatic life.
-Make sure you have enough energy to swim back to shore.
-Do not try to swim against a current if caught in one. Swim gradually out of the current, by swimming across it.