InTouch with Southern Kentucky August 2020 | Page 32

Beat
the Heat
Heat-related illnesses
are preventable
BY RAY HUNTER
Summers in Southeastern
Kentucky are typically hot, wet, and
humid. The Weather Atlas reports
that high temperatures repeatedly
cross the 95°F mark in July, and the
heat can feel oppressive.
As temperatures soar this
summer, residents of Somerset
could experience heat-related
illnesses, like heat exhaustion or
heat stroke.
Jim Huff coached football,
basketball, track, and cross-country
running at Southwestern High and
Pulaski High for over 14 years. He
said, “Heat exhaustion can turn
into heat stroke, and both can be
deadly.”
According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention,
heat exhaustion and heat stroke
present when the body cannot cool
itself properly. The human body
normally cools itself by sweating.
However, during extreme heat, a
person’s body temperature rises
faster than it can cool itself down.
This process can damage the
brain and major body organs,
including acute heart, liver, kidney
and muscle damage, nervous
system problems, and blood
disorders.
Huff said that the most critical
factor considering heat illness in
students is keen observation.
“When football players or
runners start to look pale, that’s an
indication of heat exhaustion. A red
tinge about the face could be heat
stroke,” he said.
Some of the warning signs of
heat exhaustion are headaches,
dizziness, or fainting. Other
indicators can include weakness,
irritability, and confusion.
Individuals should seek immediate
medical attention if they experience
symptoms like nausea or vomiting.
32 • In Touch with Southern Kentucky AUGUST 2020