Heat And Your Health
The recent heat wave in France, where more than 3,000 people have died, has shown us how dangerous hot weather can be.
The elderly, the very young and people with chronic health problems are most at risk. But even healthy people can fall victim to summer heat.
Dr. Mallika Marshall visits The Saturday Early Show to offer tips on how to protect yourself and your family. The following are her recommendations:
- Drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic beverages
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that is light in color
- Reduce strenuous activity or do them during the cooler parts of the day.
Health risks:
Normally our bodies can cool down by sweating, but in extreme heat the body can lose its ability to regulate temperature. The sweating function fails and the body temperature rises rapidly, resulting in heatstroke. Heatstroke is a serious medical condition that can damage the brain and other organs; it can even kill you.
Symptoms of heatstroke:
A person with heatstroke may be suffering from all or just some of these symptoms. If you think someone might be suffering from heatstroke, do whatever you can to get him or her to a hospital immediately. Keep the person doused in cold water. If it's not too humid, you can wrap the victim in a wet sheet and fan them vigorously.
Food
A lot of people are wondering what to do with food left in their refrigerators or freezers during a blackout. Why is this an issue?
Obviously, foods that are not kept at the right temperature can spoil and harbor bacteria. Food poisoning is not only incredibly uncomfortable, but it can even become life-threatening for very young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.
The bottom line is, you don't want to risk your family's health to save a few dollars in groceries. And a good motto is: "When in doubt, throw it out!"
However, you don't necessarily need to throw everything out of the refrigerator and freezer. The following are some guidelines:
Examine Your Food - Any food that has an unusual odor or color should obviously be thrown out. And don't taste a food to determine its safety.
Measure the Temperature of the Refrigerator - Bacteria begin to grow above 41 degrees Fahrenheit. So if the temperature in your refrigerator rises about 41 degrees F for more than two hours, you will need to start throwing out perishable foods. So, meats, dairy products, creamy dressings, cooked foods such as rice, pastas and vegetables.
Foods that are safe, even above 41 degrees are hard cheeses and margarines that are properly wrapped, canned fruits and juices, peanut butter, condiments such as mustard and ketchup, bread items.
Try to Avoid Opening your Refrigerator and Freezer - The more you open them, the faster their contents will warm up.
A full freezer will remain below 41 degrees F for about two days, a partially full freezer for about a day. So you may be able to salvage a lot of things out your freezer. If an item still contains ice crystals, it can be refrozen. If it's completely thawed, you can check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer. If it's still below 41 degrees F you can refreeze it. But again, when in doubt, throw it out.