OUCH, too hot

Heat Related Illness

We all need to be aware of the heat and how it can affect our heath. Heat related illnesses are a real danger and not just to the people who work outdoors. The very young and many seniors cannot regulate their body temperatures well. Our emergency first aid classes cover both Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke. And we all should know the major cause of heat related illness. The culprit is DEHYDRATION. We do not have space here to cover in-depth the signs and symptoms, let alone everything we can and should do. The link below will help explain in detail heat stress and heat illness.
But keep in mind a few important things. Heat stroke can and does kill many people each year. If you get heat exhausted you are done for the day. It takes longer than 24 hours for the body to completely rehydrate. If you go back to work before you body dehydrates, you are far more likely to develop Heat Stroke. Heat Stroke can permanently damage organs that can lead to death. If you suspect you are becoming Heat Exhausted, (you are hot, sweaty and become exhausted, not just tired) STOP what you are doing. Get to a cooler place, take off most clothing and put wet towels under your arms, groin and behind the neck. Do drink an electrolyte replacement. Drinking a quart of a sports drink is good if you need it.
However “beware”! Drinking sport drinks all day long can cause your body to lose fluid. Water is still the best long term solution. If at any time you go from feeling very hot and exhausted, to feeling you are weak or dizzy or it’s hard to think, you are in trouble. You could be having Heat Stroke. DON’T BE IN DENIAL. Get help, and have them CALL 911. Exert yourself as little as possible. You must at this time cool your body down quickly, but do NOT use ice water. Do the above: get to a cooler place, take off most clothing and put wet towels under your arms, groin and behind the neck. Better yet, wet down your entire body. You may feel too sick to drink anything, or may not have the mental capacity to do so safely. When you have Heat Stroke, your body has given up the ability to cool itself and the brain is heating up. It’s highly likely EMT will put IV fluids in both arms while you are in route to the local hospital. Enjoy the summer and have a great time, but also be heat smart and be safe!
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/