More Summer Safety - Mary Beth Murray

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Last week’s column generated a number of questions about heat-related dangers. We thank the Centers for Disease Control for the following information. People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to compensate and properly cool themselves. The body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some conditions, sweating just isn't enough. In such cases, a person's body temperature rises rapidly. Very high body temperatures may damage the brain or other vital organs. Several factors affect the body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather. When the humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly. Other conditions related to risk include age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn and prescription drug and alcohol use. To protect your health when temperatures are extremely high, remember to keep cool and use common sense. The following tips will help: •Increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. During heavy exercise in a hot environment, drink two to four glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool fluids each hour Don't drink liquids that contain alcohol, or large amounts of sugar, as these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps. •Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body and they must be replaced. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. •Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool itself and causes a loss of body fluids. It also causes pain and damages the skin. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat along with sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions. •If you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body's thermostat will have a chance to recover. •If you are not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or at least into the shade and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint. •When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day. •Although any one at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. oInfants and children up to four years of age are sensitive to high temperatures and rely on others to regulate their environments and provide adequate liquids. oPeople 65 years of age or older may not compensate for heat stress efficiently and are less likely to sense and respond to change in temperature. oPeople who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness because of their tendency to retain more body heat. oPeople who overexert during work or exercise may become dehydrated and susceptible to heat sickness. oPeople who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation, may be affected by extreme heat. oVisit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching. •Be aware that any sudden change in temperature, such as an early summer heat wave, will be stressful to your body. If you travel to a hotter climate, allow several days to become acclimated before attempting any vigorous exercise, and work up to it gradually. •Never leave children or pets in cars. Even in cool temperatures, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. Even with the windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes. Anyone left inside is at risk for serious heat-related illnesses or even death. Children who are left unattended in parked cars are at greatest risk. Summer is for fun. Using common sense and following the CDC’s recommendations will help keep it that way. Mary Beth Murray is a firefighter with the BBVFC, where she has been a member since 1993. She is an expert in fire safety education and was the Company’s 2006 Firefighter of the Year. Mary Beth lives in Bethany Beach with her husband, Steve, and their two daughters and can be reached at [email protected].