Tips For Staying Safe In Hot Weather
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - North Texas remains under a Heat Advisory on Monday, which could end up being one of the hottest days of the year. The advisory runs through 7:00 p.m. and may even be extended into Tuesday for some areas. In such extreme heat, it is important to make sure that you remain safe.
MedStar on Monday said that they are now responding to an average of five heat-related medical emergencies each day, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Children and the elderly are most likely to experience these illnesses.
SYMPTOMS
Heatstroke occurs when the body suffers long exposure to heat and becomes unable to cool down. It can be life threatening, so it is important to know the symptoms, and those of heat exhaustion. They include paleness, sweating, nausea and vomiting. A case of heat exhaustion can escalate to heatstroke within minutes.
Additional signs of heatstroke include confusion, dry skin, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, decreased urination and even convulsions. If you see someone experiencing these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
HYDRATION
"Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses large amount of water and salt through excessive sweating, particularly through hard labor or exercise," explained Dr. Neal Richmond with MedStar.
Doctors recommend that people drink eight ounces of water every other hour in order to stay hydrated. Keep in mind, simply swimming in a pool or running through a sprinkler is not enough. Also, be sure to minimize the amount of carbonated, sugary and caffeinated drinks that you take in, because those can actually dehydrate you.
VENTILATION
Try to stay in a place where there is plenty of cool air circulating. If you are indoors and do not have access to air conditioning, open windows and use fans. The Salvation Army has also opened cooling centers across North Texas.
"If you're going to be doing anything outdoors during the high-temperature summer months, we recommend drinking plenty of water and frequently cooling off in the shade or indoors," said Macara Trusty with MedStar.
CLOTHING
Avoid dark colors and tight garments that trap in the heat. Also, hats are great for shielding from the sun. However, if you feel yourself getting too warm, remove the hat and any other head coverings to allow heat to escape. And don't forget to apply (and re-apply) plenty of sunscreen.
Dallas exerciser Laurie Seale said, "If you come out here and you're not covered, you're going to get sunburned and you're not going to have fun."
EXERCISE
Most people will try to workout indoors on the hot days. But, for those who still want to exercise outside, try to do it very early in the day, before the sun rises. Be careful about doing an intense workout after a long day. If you are going to exercise later in the day, do just a light workout instead.
"I have a glass of orange juice," stated Dr. Robert Bloom, who was exercising on the Katy Trail on Monday morning, "because the orange juice contains potassium, which is important for cramping."
CARS
Car care is also imporant in the hot weather. According to AAA, drivers should check the air pressure of their tires. Those with low air pressure are more likely to blow out on the hot pavement. Heat is bad for your engine, too. Make sure that your cooling system has a good mix of water and coolant.
As for your car battery, heat and vibration are both enemies, and can lead to internal breakdown and failure. Open your hood and make sure that your car battery is secure. And, if it is more than three years old, have a professional test it to see how long it might last. Get more car care tips from AAA.
And, of course, do not leave children or pets unattended in hot cars. Be sure to keep car doors locked when the vehicles are not in use to prevent children from getting trapped inside.
CHECKING UP
It is important to check on neighbors and loved ones, especially the elderly who are especially vulnerable to heat illnesses and may not realize how hot it is getting. Call them, or stop by their homes, to make sure that they stay safe and are feeling okay.
