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Staying cool is your best defense against heat-related illness. Below are some
preventive measures everyone should take.
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Avoid being outdoors in the hottest part of the day.
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If you must go out, try going out in the early morning or later evening hours
when the sun is not as strong.
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Slow down activities that make you hot.
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Work and exercise in brief periods. Take frequent breaks.
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Dress in light, loose clothing. Wear a wide brimmed hat.
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Drink plenty of cool fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
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At greater risk are the elderly, children, and people with certain medical
conditions, such as heart disease. However, even young and healthy individuals
can succumb to heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during
hot weather. Some behaviors also put people at greater risk: drinking alcohol;
taking part in strenuous outdoor physical activities in hot weather; and taking
medications that impair the body's ability to regulate its temperature or that
inhibit perspiration.
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Severe muscle contractions, usually in the legs or abdomen
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Elevated body temperature
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Dizziness and weakness
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Rapid, weak pulse becoming irregular
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Irritable, bizarre or combative behavior
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Headache
These are painful spasms usually in the leg and stomach muscles and usually
accompanied by heavy sweating. They can be alleviated by moving to a cooler
place and lightly massaging and stretching the affected muscles. People
experiencing heat cramps should also sip up to half a glass of cool water every
15 minutes.
During heat exhaustion, a person may be sweating heavily, but their skin may be
cool, pale or flushed. Other symptoms are a weak pulse, fainting, dizziness,
nausea, vomiting, exhaustion and headaches. Body temperature may be normal but
it will likely rise. People suffering from heat exhaustion should lie down in a
cool place, loosen or remove clothing and put on cool wet clothes. They should
sip water slowly, about half a glass every 15 minutes. Water should be
discontinued if they are nauseated. They should seek immediate medical
attention if vomiting occurs.
It is also called Sun Stroke. This is a severe medical emergency that can
result in death. Body temperature is high (103° F or 39.4° C) as opposed to
normal body temperature of 98.5° F or 37° C, the pulse is strong and rapid, and
breathing is shallow and rapid. The person suffering heat stroke may be
experiencing throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, have red, hot
and dry skin (not sweating), and may become unconscious. This person should be
taken to a hospital as quickly as possible. Delay can be fatal. En route, keep
the person as cool as possible by removing clothing and sponging with cool
water.
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Call 911
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Cool the body by bathing or sponging - water should be lukewarm to cool
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Give fluids in small sips - cool water
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Remove excess clothing and loosen existing clothing
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Move person to cooler location
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