Heat Safety and Preparedness

During extremely hot days this summer, take precautions to protect your health and safety and the health of your children, neighbors and pets.

The health department has a complete heat emergency preparedness brochure avaible here: Heat Emergency Preparedness. 

People at high risk for heat-related illness include infants, young children, people over age 65 as well as people who have a personal or family history of heat illness or symptoms, mental health diagnoses, sickle cell trait or disease, personal history of severe muscle pain with activity or heat injury, or use of supplements containing metabolic stimulants, caffeine and other medications.

Health officials advise residents to be familiar with the signs and symptoms of heat stroke, heat stress and heat cramps:

• Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. Symptoms are hot, dry skin, shallow breathing, a rapid, weak pulse and confusion. Heat stroke occurs when a person’s body temperature exceeds 105 degrees Fahrenheit and could render the victim unconscious. Call for emergency medical treatment. If possible, relocate the person to an air-conditioned room while awaiting an ambulance.

 

• Heat exhaustion is characterized by heavy sweating, weakness, cold, pale, clammy skin. There may be fainting and vomiting. Someone suffering from heat exhaustion should be moved to a cool area out of direct sunlight and sponge bathed in cool water and fanned. Give one cup of water to the individual every 15 minutes for one hour. Do not return to heat exposure, work or exercise that day.

 

• Heat cramps are characterized by painful spasms, usually in muscles of legs and abdomen and by heaving sweating. To relieve heat cramps, apply firm pressure on cramping muscles or gently massage the muscles. Give a cup of water every 15 minutes for one hour. Discontinue exercise and do not return to heat exposure or exercise that day.
  

For heat safety tips visit  http://www.cdc.gov/Features/ExtremeHeat/.

 

You may also call the Worcester County Health Department at 410-632-1100. Follow our updates on facebook.com/worcesterhealth and on twitter.com/WorcesterHealth.