Excessive Heat and Your Family

High temperatures combined with humidity can be extremely hazardous, leading to life threatening illness. Heat-related illnesses are preventable, if you take the necessary precautions.

Before Excessive Heat Situations

• Stay informed.
  • Monitor for heat advisories in your area at the NOAA National Weather Service. http://www.weather.gov/
  • Listen to local news and weather channels for health and safety updates.
• Know the terminology.
  • Excessive Heat Advisory: An excessive heat event is occurring; prolonged exposure or strenuous activity might result in a heat-related illness.
  • Excessive Heat Warning: Life-threatening heat is occurring. Take precautions immediately!
• Discuss heat precautions with your family.
  • Limit or avoid activity during the day.
  • Keep hydrated.
  • Know the signs of heat-related illnesses.
• Be aware of high risk individuals in your neighborhood.
  • Young children, the elderly, people with illness or chronic disease, or that are overweight.

During Excessive Heat Situations

• Monitor family members and others for heat-related illnesses.
• Stay inside and stay cool.
  • Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death.
  • If air conditioning is not available, spend time in public places that are air-conditioned (e.g., library, malls, and theaters).
• Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Drink 2-4 glasses of cool fluids (water, sports drinks) each hour.
  • Avoid drinks containing alcohol, caffeine, or large amounts of sugar – these actually cause you to lose more body fluid.
• Eat small, but frequent meals.
  • Avoid hot foods and heavy meals; they add heat to your body.
• If you must be outdoors,
  • Limit activities to morning and evening hours.
  • Avoid strenuous activities.
  • Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen that is SPF 15 or higher.
  • Take frequent breaks in the shade or in a cool environment.
• Never leave children in a parked car.
  • Each year children die from extreme heat after being left in parked vehicles.
  • Cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly – even within minutes.

Heat-Related Illnesses

• Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation!
  • Occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature and cool itself.
  • Signs:
    • extremely high body temperature (above 103°)
    • red, hot, dry skin (no sweating)
    • rapid, strong pulse
    • throbbing headache
    • dizziness
    • nausea
    • confusion
    • unconsciousness
  • If you see any of these signs, get medical assistance immediately!
• Heat exhaustion.
  • A milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.
  • Signs:
    • cool, moist, pale or flushed skin
    • heavy sweating
    • headache
    • nausea
    • dizziness
    • weakness
  • Cool the victim by:
    • providing cool, nonalcoholic beverage
    • rest in a cool or air-conditioned environment
    • cool shower, bath, or sponge bath
  • If the person vomits or begins to lose consciousness, get medical assistance immediately!
• Heat cramps.
  • Muscle pains or spasms (usually in the legs or abdomen) that occur in association with loss of fluids and electrolytes.
  • Often an early sign the body is having trouble with heat.
• Sunburn.
  • Damage to the skin that significantly slows the skin’s ability to release heat.
  • Usually minor discomfort that heals in a week.
  • Severe sunburn may require medical attention.
• Heat rash.
  • Skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot, humid weather.
  • Red cluster of pimples or small blisters; usually on the neck, chest, or folds of the skin.
  • Most common in young children; can affect any age.
  • Usually does not require medical assistance.