Preparation and awareness are the keys to preventing heat illnesses, said Brad Appleton, a paramedic with the Center Point and Mountain Brook fire departments.
“Drink lots of water and take frequent breaks, and if you’re sick, forgo that exercise or activity for the day,” said Appleton, a member of NorthPark Baptist Church, Trussville, in Birmingham Baptist Association.
He also emphasized that heat exhaustion can occur quickly and unexpectedly, even after light to moderate activity. It also can occur inside a home, especially in a home that is not air-conditioned.
“[Individuals] start doing light activities inside, and what they don’t realize is that the ambient temperature in the home has risen so much that their bodies aren’t able to maintain a normal body temperature,” Appleton said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), severe heat stress can be a life-threatening emergency. Its effects can range from deadly heat stroke to the milder heat exhaustion.
Relatives and neighbors can help protect elderly individuals from heat-related illnesses by visiting them often, making sure they have a cool place to rest and providing electric fans whenever possible.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion can mimic other serious conditions. Therefore, if an elderly individual has symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, severe headache and/or moist pale skin, then call 911 immediately.
If you are alone and experience these symptoms, call 911 right away because loss of consciousness can happen quickly if heat exahaustion progresses to heat stroke.
The symptoms of heat stroke are similar, but victims experience red, hot, dry skin with no moisture and an extremely high body temperature, classified as above 103 F.
After calling 911, begin cooling the individual using these practices suggested by Appleton and the CDC Web site:
► Get the person to a shady or cool area.
► Use cold water compresses or sprays to cool the person. Apply cool cloths especially under the arms, between the legs and around the neck to reduce core body temperature.
► Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101–102 F.
► Give the person small sips of water, if possible. Do not give the person alcohol to drink.
For more information, visit www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/elderlyheat.asp.
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