Will the summer be too hot to handle?

With the temperature climbing well into the 90's to give us the first heatwave of 2008 this weekend, I thought it would be a great time to talk about staying cool this summer. Beating the heat is not only a matter of personal comfort, but it's important for your health, too.

Every summer we hear about heat-related deaths on the news. Elderly people, young children, and those who are sick or overweight are more likely to prone to heat-related illnesses. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that excessive heat claims more lives in the United States each year than hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined.

We normally control our temperature through persperation. However, there are situations in which our body's ability to keep itself cool becomes overstressed, leading to several heat-related conditions:

• Heat cramps: Muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are an early signal that the body is having trouble with the heat.
  What to do: Get the person to a cooler place and having him or her rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they can make conditions worse.
• Heat exhaustion: A form of mild shock, which occurs during exercise or heavy work in a hot, humid place, resulting in the loss of body fluids due to heavy sweating. It is evidenced by cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. If not treated, the victim may suffer heat stroke.
  What to do: Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink, making sure that he or she drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine. Let the victim rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition.
• Heat stroke (also known as sunstroke): A life-threatening condition, when the victim's temperature control system stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Evidenced by hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high - as high as 105°F.
  What to do: Call 911 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place and quickly cool the body - immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

Here are some quick tips to help avoid heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heatstroke:

• Stay inside, in an air conditioned area, as much as possible. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor, out of the sunshine. Try to go to a public building with air conditioning each day for several hours. Remember, electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help sweat evaporate, which cools your body.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.
  
• Avoid strenuous activities, or perform them during the coolest part of the day (usually in the morning between 4:00 am and 7:00 am). Take frequent breaks, preferably in a cool area.
• Drink plenty of water regularly and often. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them - they can deydrate you.
  
• Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat.
• If you have allergies or any other medical condition, be extra careful, because certain medications can make you more prone to heat-related illness.
• Avoid a sunburn, as it makes the job of heat dissipation more difficult.
• NEVER leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach over 140°F. Exposure to such high temperatures can kill in minutes.