HEALTH CORNER
No, Really, I’m Cool!
4 ways to steer clear of heat-related illness and how to recognize the signs
BY ABIGAIL CHAMBERS AND LYNNE CHOATE
Young or old. Outside working, playing or just relaxing. The heat doesn’t care who you are and can hit you
like a brick if you’re not careful.
With temperatures expected to climb into the mid to upper 90s this weekend and the coming months,
emergency medicine physicians are warning against the dangers of being out in intense heat. It doesn’t take
much to bring on heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can be deadly.
Norton Audubon Hospital’s emergency department reports having treated several patients during the
peak summer months of June, July and August over the past several years for heat exhaustion and other heat
related illnesses including heat stroke. In fact, from July 2014 to 2015 there was almost a 50 percent increase
in the number of heat-related admissions.
“Everyone is at risk and needs to pay attention to their body when outside in the heat,” said Dr. Robert Couch,
emergency medicine physician and medical director for the emergency department at Norton Audubon
Hospital. “The impact of heat exhaustion can be extreme, even leading to death.”
When the body’s core temperature begins to rise to near 104 degrees Fahrenheit, the body goes into distress.
Cell damage begins to occur, initiating a cascade of events that may lead to organ failure and death.
Heat-related illness can range in severity from mild to fatal. In most cases, it is preventable as long as you
listen to your body.
SYMPTOMS START OUT AS DIZZINESS, HEADACHE AND FEELING TOO WEAK TO
CONTINUE AN ACTIVITY. AFTER THAT, MORE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:
• Heavy sweating or the other extreme of hot, dry skin
• Cold, pale and clammy skin
• Dark-colored urine (a sign of dehydration)
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle cramping
• Fast, weak pulse
• Fainting
“People at greatest risk for heat exhaustion are the elderly, children younger than 4 years old and those with
chronic illnesses, including heart disease, diabetes and neurological disorders,” Dr. Couch said. “However,
everyone needs to be vigilant by staying hydrated and taking care of themselves and those around them in
the extreme heat – whether they are working or playing.”
IF YOU OR SOMEONE AROUND YOU BEGINS EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OF HEAT
EXHAUSTION, HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
• Move to a cooler location, even if it is under shade
until moving indoors is an option
• Loosen tight clothing
• Drink cool water
• Apply cold, wet cloths to as much of the body as possible,
including the head, neck and armpits
• If the person is vomiting, seek medical attention immediately
• Call 911 if symptoms persist or do not improve
14 EXTOL SPORTS / JULY 2017