Welcome
to Summer
in
Florida — no surprise that it’s hot and humid. Those who’ve lived here
for a while know it will get worse before the joy of winter. But if
you’re new to the our State and delighting in having escaped the frozen
North, don’t be fooled. That sun and heat can be dangerous to your
health.
Common
sense
tells us
to stay out of
the heat during the hottest part of the day, drink plenty of water
and do not get
overheated. It’s not always that easy, though. Many people
work outside. Even for retirees, getting regular exercise and keeping
up with the yard, errands and other daily demands can make summer
living less than easy. And, people age 65 and older
are less likely to notice or respond to changes in temperature,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
making them more at risk for heat-related illnesses.
Here are some tips::
+ Stay inside mid-day. Walk the dogs, exercise outside or do yard work
early in the morning or in the evening.
+
Take cover.
Choose
lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing made from cotton or
one of the synthetic fabrics designed to wick away sweat. Add a
wide-brimmed hat and bring your umbrella to provide shade and cover
from the afternoon showers.
+
Drink plenty of
water. It cannot be said enough, drink, drink, drink.
During hot weather, don’t
just drink when you’re thirsty, drink frequently. Water is
best. Avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine or lots of sugar, which are dehydrating.
+ Never leave anyone
including animals in the car! When it is scorching hot outside, the
interior of your car can become an oven, baking everything — and
everyone — inside. A few-minutes run into the store
can turn into tragedy.
Heat-related illnesses: When is too much really too much?
Heat-related
illnesses, such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke, occur when your body
can’t keep itself cool. On hot, humid days, sweat doesn’t evaporate as
quickly because of the increased moisture in the air. When sweating
isn’t enough to cool your body, your body temperature rises, and you
may become ill.
Anyone
can fall
victim to a heat-related illness but according to the CDC, those at
greatest risk include infants and children up to 4 years of age, people
65 years of age and older, people who are overweight and people who are
ill or on certain medications.
Muscle cramping
might
be the first sign of heat-related illness, and may lead to heat
exhaustion or stroke, which can be a life-threatening illness. Here is
how you can recognize heat exhaustion and heat stroke and what to do:
Signs
of Heat exhaustion:
+
Heavy sweating
+
Weakness
+
Cold, pale, and
clammy skin
+
Fast, weak pulse
+
Nausea or
vomiting
+
Fainting
If
you have any
of
the above signs:
+
Move
to a
cooler location.
+
Lie down and
loosen
your clothing.
+
Apply cool, wet
cloths to as much of your body as possible.
+
Sip water.
+
If you have
vomited
and it continues, seek medical attention immediately.
Signs of Heat stroke:
+
High body
temperature (above 103 degrees)
+
Hot, red, dry
or
moist skin
+
Rapid and
strong
pulse
+
Possible
unconsciousness
Call
911
immediately
— this is a medical emergency!!!!
+
Move the person
to
a cooler environment.
+
Reduce the
person’s
body temperature with cool cloths or even a bath.
+
Do NOT give
fluids.
