YOUR
body can only take so much
exposure to extreme heat. In extreme heat,
your body temperature can rise rapidly and
sweat may not be enough to cool you down.
Very high body temperatures can lead to
heat illnesses, which have the potential to
damage your brain and other vital organs.
Here are some common heat illnesses.
Heat cramps
People who sweat a lot during strenu-
ous activity are prone to heat cramps.
Sweating depletes the body’s salt and
moisture. The low salt level in the muscles
causes painful cramps. Heat cramps are
often an early warning sign that the body
is having trouble with the heat.
Signs and Symptoms:
Y
Painful
spasms, usually in the arms, legs or ab-
dominal muscles.
Y
Heavy sweating.
First Aid:
Y
Stop what you’re doing, and
sit quietly in a cool place.
Y
Gently massage
affected muscles to relieve spasms.
Y
Sip
cool water, clear juice or a sports beverage
(stop drinking if you become nauseated).
Y
Don’t return to strenuous activity for a
few hours after the cramps subside.
Y
Get
medical help if the cramps don’t diminish
in an hour.
Heat exhaustion
The body loses an excessive amount of
water and salt, usually through sweating.
Signs and Symptoms:
Y
Heavy sweat-
ing.
Y
Weakness.
Y
Cool, moist, pale or
flushed skin.
Y
Fast, weak pulse.
Y
Nausea,
fainting or vomiting.
First Aid:
Y
Move to a cooler area.
Y
Rest.
Y
Loosen or remove tight cloth-
ing.
Y
Take a cool shower, bath or sponge
bath.
Y
Slowly sip cool, nonalcoholic
beverages.
Y
Seek medical attention if
symptoms get worse or last longer than
one hour.
Heatstroke
The body’s temperature control system
stops working. As a result, the body’s
temperature rises rapidly, its sweating
mechanism fails and the body can’t cool
down. Heatstroke is a medical emergency.
Signs and Symptoms:
Y
High body
temperature (above 103 degrees).
Y
Red,
hot, dry skin.
Y
Rapid, strong pulse.
Y
Throbbing headache.
Y
Dizziness.
Y
Nausea.
Y
Confusion.
Y
Unconsciousness.
First Aid:
Y
Call 911.
Y
Move the per-
son to a cooler, shadier place.
Y
Remove
excess clothing.
Y
Cool the person down
using whatever is available, such as a cool
bath or shower, a cool sponge bath, or
cool water from a garden hose.
Y
Do not
give the person fluids containing alcohol.
When being
hot is not
so cool
Extreme temperatures can
trigger heat-related illnesses
SUMMER 2015
Healthy you,
healthy baby
Get your meds
delivered
No, I won’t
eat it!