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Heat-Related Illness
School is out for the summer! Family vacations, outside activities and
lazy afternoons by the pool fill our calendars. While all of these
are fun, there are some precautions to take.
One hot, summer, afternoon I was playing tag with some other children
my age. We were running hard not to get tagged. Suddenly the ground
started spinning, and the next thing I knew I was inside with someone pouring
water on my head. Another incident happened, while walking in a large crowd
of other walkers a couple of miles for a church event. It was very hot
that day, and we were almost to our destination when one of the walkers
fainted from heat stress. Medical attention was immediately given and she
recovered.
People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to
properly cool themselves. Elderly people (65 years and older), infants
and children and people with chronic medical conditions are more prone
to heat stress. On average, about 300 people die each year from exposure
to heat.
Limit your activities and time outdoors on hot days. Keep your
home cool with air conditioning – fans alone only circulate hot air.
There are symptoms of heat stress before one actually succumbs, but
are often ignored or no action taken to relieve them. In my case,
I did not want to be It. In the walker’s case, she was almost at the end
of the trial and thought she could hold on to the finish.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include:
heavy sweating
paleness
muscle cramps
tiredness
weakness
dizziness
headache
nausea or vomiting
fainting
skin may be cool and moist
Symptoms of heat stroke vary but may include:
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An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F, orally)
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Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
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Throbbing headache
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Rapid, strong pulse
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Dizziness
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Nausea
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Confusion
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Unconsciousness
If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening
emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you
begin cooling the victim.
Do the following:
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Get the victim to a shady area.
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Cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can.
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Due to possibility of choking, do not give the victim fluids to drink
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If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency
room for further instructions.
For more information about heat stress, log onto www.cdc.gov
and print heat stroke in the search column.
Blessings,
Deaconess Sharon
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