Summer is here, and we’re all excited to get outdoors to enjoy our favorite activities. In addition to its many joys, the season can bring health challenges, especially when temperatures soar. Worldwide, extreme heat leads to thousands of deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization.
“Becoming overheated can be a serious health concern,” says Dr. William Kumprey, Associate Chief Medical Officer of ThedaCare Emergency Medicine. “It takes our bodies several days to adjust to hot, humid conditions. This makes people who work, exercise, and play outdoors more susceptible to heat issues during stretches of unseasonably warm weather.”
Heat Exhaustion
Heat-related illness falls into two main categories. Heat exhaustion is the less severe type. It can occur when a person loses excessive fluid and salt through sweating.
Those at increased risk of heat exhaustion include:
- People over the age of 65
- Infants
- Individuals with chronic medical conditions or who are on certain medications
- People who work outside
- Athletes exerting themselves outdoors
Heat exhaustion symptoms include:
- Heavy sweating
- Cold, pale, or clammy skin
- Rapid pulse
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Weakness or tiredness
- Headache
“With heat exhaustion, people need to get into a cooler environment, rest, and drink fluids,” Dr. Kumprey says. “If symptoms don’t improve after an hour, seek medical care.”
Heatstroke
Heatstroke, the second type, is a medical emergency. It occurs when a person’s core temperature exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit, producing more heat than the body can release. Left untreated, heatstroke can damage the heart, brain, and central nervous system.
Symptoms of heatstroke include:
- Flushed, hot, and dry skin without sweating
- Rapid pulse and breathing
- Throbbing headache
- Upset stomach, with nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea
- Dizziness, confusion, irritability, or loss of consciousness
Call 911 if you suspect heatstroke, Dr. Kumprey says. While you wait for emergency medical services to arrive, follow these steps:
- Move the person into the shade.
- Use cool cloths or ice packs to try to cool them down. Applying these to the head, neck, and groin can help.
- Get the person into a cool bath, if available.
- Don’t try to give someone with heatstroke anything to drink if they have an altered level of consciousness, as this may compromise their ability to breathe.
Car Safety
“It’s never appropriate to leave a child or pet in the car during the summer,” Dr. Kumprey says.
Approximately 40 children die each year in the United States after being left in a car. On a 70-degree day, the inside of a car can reach 118 degrees Fahrenheit within an hour. Even on a 60-degree day the inside of your car can reach 110 degrees from a greenhouse effect.
On a hot day, even with the window cracked, temperatures can reach extreme temperatures up to 160 degrees. This can prove fatal for a child or a pet in as little as 10 minutes, Dr. Kumprey says.
Keep in mind that Wisconsin Act 103 is a Good Samaritan law protecting people from liability when rescuing a child or pet from a hot vehicle. More than 50% of children who die from heat-related illness were forgotten in the car, and more than 25% gain access on their own.
Prevention Steps
“Planning ahead for extreme heat can help keep people safe,” Dr. Kumprey says.
Follow these steps:
- Pay attention to weather forecasts, especially heat advisories and warnings.
- Plan your outdoor activities during cooler times of the day, if possible.
- Stay hydrated. Drink water regularly throughout the day. If you’re thirsty, you’ve waited too long. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Avoid strenuous activity during the hottest times of the day.
- Take frequent sun breaks.
- Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat. Sunburn affects the body’s ability to cool itself.
- Keep a close eye on older loved ones and neighbors, who are more susceptible to heat-related illness.
Convenient Care
“It’s crucial to heed the signs of heat-related illness,” Dr. Kumprey says. “Take the appropriate steps to keep yourself and others safe, and call 911 in the event of suspected heatstroke.”
ThedaCare is dedicated to providing close-to-home care to our communities. Emergency care is available at hospitals throughout northeast and central Wisconsin, including the newly opened ThedaCare Medical Center-Fond du Lac.
