The Potential Dangers Of Hot Weather

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Okay some of us have been posting discussions about how miserably hot it is, including me, and in many cases these discussions are light-hearted. But as you know there are potential dangers with hot weather, and can strike anyone of us, regardless of their health. I came across two great websites that give info about heat exhaustion and heat stroke. There are here: http://www.medicinenet.com/heat_exhaustion/article.htm http://www.medicinenet.com/heat_stroke/article.htm And while you can read the symptoms and what to do in either case, I want to post the signs/symptoms of them here--I think this is valuable information for a lot of us, now that we're all baking in the dog days of summer. Heat Exhaustion: Recognizing Heat Exhaustion Warning signs of heat exhaustion include: * heavy sweating * paleness * muscle cramps * tiredness * weakness * dizziness * headache * nausea or vomiting * fainting The skin may be cool and moist. The victim's pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention immediately if: * symptoms are severe, or * the victim has heart problems or high blood pressure. Otherwise, help the victim to cool off, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour. What to Do Cooling measures that may be effective include: * cool, non-alcoholic beverages, as directed by your physician * rest * cool shower, bath, or sponge bath * an air-conditioned environment * Lightweight clothing Heat Stroke: What are heat stroke symptoms? Symptoms of heat stroke can sometimes mimic those of heart attack or other conditions. Sometimes a person experiences symptoms of heart exhaustion before progressing to heart strokes. Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, headache, muscle cramps and aches, and dizziness. However some individuals can develop symptoms of heat stroke suddenly and rapidly without warning. Different people may have different symptoms and signs of heat stroke. But common symptoms and signs of heart stroke include: * high body temperature * the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin * rapid pulse * difficulty breathing * strange behavior * hallucinations * confusion * agitation * disorientation * seizure * coma How do you treat a heat stroke victim? Victims of heat stroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent organ damage. First and foremost, cool the victim. Get the victim to a shady area, remove clothing, apply cool or tepid water to the skin (for example you may spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose), fan the victim to promote sweating and evaporation, place ice packs under armpits and groins. Monitor body temperature with a thermometer and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102 degrees. Always notify emergency services (911) immediately. If their arrival is delayed, they can give you further instructions for treatment of the victim. The most important measures to prevent heat strokes are to avoid becoming dehydrated, and to avoid vigorous physical activities in hot and humid weather. If you have to perform physical activities in hot weather, drink plenty of fluids (such as water and Gatorade), but avoid alcohol, coffee, and tea which may lead to dehydration. Take frequent breaks to hydrate yourself. Wear hats, and light colored, and light and loose clothes. There's a lot more detail that can be read at the two sites I've listed....