Media release from Atrium Health Floyd:
The National Weather Service is calling for a heat index near 100 degrees and above through early next week, and it’s important to protect yourself and your loved ones from heat exhaustion and heatstroke during this sizzling summer.
Young children and older adults are particularly susceptible to getting overheated.
Children are smaller than adults and their bodies tend to get overheated more quickly. They can also be unaware of how they are feeling as they play.
And, while senior adults might be less active outside than kids, they can be very vulnerable to the heat. Older adults also are more likely to take prescription medications that hamper the body’s ability to adapt to hotter weather.
“Blood pressure medications often include diuretics, which can cause you to become dehydrated more quickly,” said Dr. Terrell Jenrette, with Atrium Health Floyd Primary Care Family Medicine in Rockmart. “Check on your older relatives and neighbors and make sure they are staying hydrated and doing what they can to keep cool.”
Here are some tips from Dr. Jenrette to help you keep your cool in soaring temperatures.
- Be strategic about outdoor time. Limit outdoor work to after 7 p.m. if possible. Be careful about performing any intense physical activities outside during the hottest part of the day.
- Take breaks. Rest frequently in the shade if possible if you are working outside.
- Dress appropriately. Wear lighter colors and looser clothing that can help wick sweat away from your skin in hot temperatures. Don’t forget a hat and sunscreen!
- Drink water. Drink plenty of water or a sports drink with electrolytes, even if you aren’t thirsty. Don’t wait until you are already overheated.
- Practice car safety. Don’t leave people or pets alone in a parked car, even for just a few minutes. You might leave the engine and air conditioner running, but if the engine stalls, the interior of the vehicle will heat up fast, especially if it is parked in the sun.
- Watch for heat illness symptoms. Signs of heat exhaustion include pale skin, fatigue, weakness, increased thirst, fainting, headache, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, muscle cramps, irritability, mild fever and cool, clammy skin. Symptoms of heatstroke — the most dangerous heat-related illness — can include confusion, fast breathing, rapid heartbeat, severe headache, dizziness, weakness, passing out, little or no sweating, body temperature over 105 degrees and flushed skin that’s hot and dry. Heatstroke is a medical emergency and can be deadly. If someone exhibits these symptoms, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department immediately.
