• Limit or avoid alcoholic beverages, as they can impair your body’ s ability to self-regulate its temperature and compromise your hydration status.
Should someone begin exhibiting signs of heat stroke and heat-related illnesses, the Mayo Clinic recommends seeking immediate medical help, such as calling 911.
While waiting for medical help, there are other actions someone can take to help a patient, the Mayo Clinic states:
• Get the person into shade or indoors
• Remove excess clothing
• Use whatever means are available to cool down the person, whether that be placing them in a pool or tub of water, giving them a cool spray of water, using a misting fan or placing ice packs or cold, wet towels on the person’ s head, neck, armpit and groin areas. While anyone can develop heat stroke, the CDC points out that there are some people who are at higher risk. People 65 years old or older, infants and children, those with chronic conditions such as heart disease, blood circulation issues and obesity can be more susceptible to heat-related illness.
Also, those who are outside in hotter months, such as construction workers and athletes should take precautions while outside.
Those who do not have air conditioning in their homes – or dislike turning on their air conditioners – are also at risk. This is why the CDC suggests checking in on friends and neighbors during very hot days to make sure they are staying in cool areas.
JULY 2025 SEKY- Southeast Kentucky Life • 27