The American Red Cross-Knoxville Area Chapter encourages
you and your family to read and use these tips to help
keep you safe in the heat of the summer. For more information
on staying safe year-round, call your American Red Cross
at (865) 584-2999.
Warm weather means activities and fun under the sun!
Whether you love putting on shorts and feeling the warm
outdoors, or find it hot and sticky, everyone must be
careful not to let a heat-related illness spoil the day.
Normally, the body has ways of keeping itself cool, by
letting heat escape through the skin, and by evaporating
sweat (perspiration). If the body does not cool properly
or does not cool enough, the victim may suffer a heat-related
illness. Anyone can be susceptible although the very young
and very old are at greater risk. Heat-related illnesses
can become serious or even deadly if unattended.
Preventing
Heat-Related Illness
- Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight,
light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away
some of the sun's energy. It is also a good idea to
wear hats or to use an umbrella.
- Drink water. Carry water or juice
with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel
thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate
the body.
- Eat small meals and eat more often.
Avoid foods that are high in protein which increase
metabolic heat.
- Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to
do so by a physician.
- Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity.
If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the
coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning
between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.
- Stay indoors when possible.
- Take regular breaks when engaged
in physical activity on warm days. Take time out to
find a cool place. If you recognize that you, or someone
else, is showing the signals of a heat-related illness,
stop activity and find a cool place. Remember, have
fun, but stay cool!
Know What These Heat-Related
Terms Mean
- Heat Wave: More than 48 hours of
high heat (90 o F or higher) and high humidity (80 percent
relative humidity or higher) are expected.
- Heat Index: A number in degrees
Fahrenheit that tells how hot it really feels with the
heat and humidity. Exposure to full sunshine can increase
the heat index by 15 o F.
- Heat cramps: Heat cramps are muscular
pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. They usually
involve the abdominal muscles or the legs. It is generally
thought that the loss of water and salt from heavy sweating
causes the cramps.
- Heat Exhaustion: Heat exhaustion
is less dangerous than heat stroke. It typically occurs
when people exercise heavily or work in a warm, humid
place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating.
Fluid loss causes blood flow to decrease in the vital
organs, resulting in a form of shock. With heat exhaustion,
sweat does not evaporate as it should, possibly because
of high humidity or too many layers of clothing. As
a result, the body is not cooled properly. Signals include
cool, moist, pale, flushed or red skin; heavy sweating;
headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion.
Body temperature will be near normal.
- Heat Stroke: Also known as sunstroke,
heat stroke is life-threatening. The victim's temperature
control system, which produces sweating to cool the
body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so
high that brain damage and death may result if the body
is not cooled quickly. Signals include hot, red and
dry skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse;
and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be
very high--sometimes as high as 105 o F.
Stages of Heat-Related
Illness
Heat-related illness usually comes in stages. The signal
of the first stage is heat cramps in muscles. These cramps
can be very painful. If you are caring for a person who
has heat cramps, have him or her stop activity and rest.
If the person is fully awake and alert, have him or her
drink small amounts of cool water or a commercial sports
drink. Gently stretch the cramped muscle and hold the
stretch for about 20 seconds, then gently massage the
muscle. Repeat these steps if necessary. If the victim
has no other signals of heat-related illness, the person
may resume activity after the cramps stop.
The signals of the next, more serious stage of a heat-related
illness (often called heat exhaustion )
include--
- Cool, moist, pale skin (the skin may be red right
after physical activity).
- Headache.
- Dizziness and weakness or exhaustion.
- Nausea.
- The skin may or may not feel hot.
The signals of the late stage of a heat-related illness
(often called heat stroke ) include--
- Vomiting.
- Decreased alertness level or complete loss of consciousness.
- High body temperature (sometimes as high as 105 o
F).
- Skin may still be moist or the victim may stop sweating
and the skin may be red, hot and dry.
- Rapid, weak pulse.
- Rapid, shallow breathing.
This late stage of a heat-related illness is life threatening.
Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
General Care for
Heat Emergencies
- Cool the Body
- Give Fluids
- Minimize Shock
For heat cramps or heat exhaustion:
Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest
in a comfortable position. If the person is fully awake
and alert, give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes.
Do not let him or her drink too quickly. Do not give liquids
with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they can make conditions
worse. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool,
wet cloths such as towels or wet sheets. Call 9-1-1 or
the local emergency number if the person refuses water,
vomits or loses consciousness.
For heat stroke: Heat stroke is a life-threatening
situation! Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or your local
EMS number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly
cool the body. Wrap wet sheets around the body and fan
it. If you have ice packs or cold packs, wrap them in
a cloth and place them on each of the victim's wrists
and ankles, in the armpits and on the neck to cool the
large blood vessels. (Do not use rubbing alcohol because
it closes the skin's pores and prevents heat loss.) Watch
for signals of breathing problems and make sure the airway
is clear. Keep the person lying down.
