Summer may have just begun, but the weather is already dangerously hot and area residents are encouraged to protect themselves against heat-related illnesses as temperatures continue to run above average.
Extremely hot days are forecast across Oklahoma this week with an excessive heat warning in effect for eastern Oklahoma until Thursday. In central Oklahoma, Wednesday is to be sunny with highs in the upper 90s to just over 100 degrees while highs on Thursday or Friday are expected in the upper 90s to about 104 degrees.
Since Friday, when this first heat wave began, Unity Health Center has seen one patient seeking treatment for a heat-related illness, said Carla Tollett, UHC marketing director.
REACT Emergency Medical Service Clinical Operations Manager Robert Knight said they’ve also seen one case that was likely a heat-related illness, but conditions are favorable for paramedics to see many more.
“It doesn’t have to be that hot — humidity can play a factor,” Knight said.
There’s three types of heat-related illnesses — heat cramps, heat exhaustion and the most serous, heat stroke, he said.
A patient with heat cramps will typically have muscular pain and need to drink fluids, he said.
When heat exhaustion occurs, it becomes more serious because the body has fluids and becomes dehydrated. A patient with heat exhaustion will likely have a headache, nausea, dizziness and vertigo and may have an “achy feeling,” Knight said. A patient with heat exhaustion usually has cool skin that is pale and moist because they are able to sweat, but they still should seek medical treatment, Knight said.
The most serious of the three conditions is a heat stroke, which can “sneak up” on a person, Knight said, and become deadly.
“The body’s cooling mechanism fails and the body temperature goes up so fast that it may damage the brain — and death can occur,” Knight said. A person suffering a heat stroke usually has dry skin because they’re unable to sweat; they become lethargic and need to immediately be cooled off, he said. Anyone suffering from a heat stroke will need an ambulance right away, Knight said.
While the heat and lack of proper fluids can cause any of these heat illnesses, Knight said alcohol use increases dehydration, along with excessive exercise. Medical conditions, such as heart disease or those who take medications like diuretics for high blood pressure, are often more susceptible to heat illnesses, he said.
Because of the intense heat, the Pottawatomie County Health Department is offering tips to residents for protecting their health.
“The elderly, infants and young children are at higher risk of heat-related illnesses. They may not be able to adjust to increases in air temperatures, or may take medications that decrease their ability to deal with heat,” said Pottawatomie County Health Department Administrative Director Tina R. Johnson. “Heat precautions are also advised for persons with heart, lung or kidney problems and persons whose occupations require them to work outdoors.”
Knight said the elderly become hotter than they realize and may sip on drinks rather than taking in enough fluids. Those who work outside in the heat also are advised to take breaks and drink plenty of water. Sports drinks that replace electrolytes, such as Gatorade, also are a good idea, he said.
“The key is prevention,” Knight said.
To reduce the potential for heat-related illnesses, Johnson said everyone should drink more fluids, regardless of their activity level.
“Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink,” she said, and those who are limited by doctors on the amount of fluid they drink because of water pills should ask how much to drink in hot weather.
Other tips to avoid heat-related problems, include:
• Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar.
• Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If no air conditioning is available, she said a shopping mall or public library is a good place to visit.
• Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperatures are in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
For those who must be out in the heat, Johnson suggests limiting outdoor activity to morning and evening hours and also offers these tips:
• Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals lost in sweat, however, those on a low-salt diet should talk to their doctor before drinking a sports beverage, she said.
• Try to rest often in shady areas and block the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
“If you experience signs of heat stress such as dizziness, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, nausea, cramps, throbbing headache, dry skin (no sweating), chest pain, great weakness, mental changes, breathing problems, or vomiting, contact your health care provider immediately,” Johnson said.
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Summer may have just begun, but the weather is already dangerously hot and area residents are encouraged to protect themselves against heat-related illnesses as temperatures continue to run above average.
Extremely hot days are forecast across Oklahoma this week with an excessive heat warning in effect for eastern Oklahoma until Thursday. In central Oklahoma, Wednesday is to be sunny with highs in the upper 90s to just over 100 degrees while highs on Thursday or Friday are expected in the upper 90s to about 104 degrees.
Since Friday, when this first heat wave began, Unity Health Center has seen one patient seeking treatment for a heat-related illness, said Carla Tollett, UHC marketing director.
REACT Emergency Medical Service Clinical Operations Manager Robert Knight said they’ve also seen one case that was likely a heat-related illness, but conditions are favorable for paramedics to see many more.
“It doesn’t have to be that hot — humidity can play a factor,” Knight said.
There’s three types of heat-related illnesses — heat cramps, heat exhaustion and the most serous, heat stroke, he said.
A patient with heat cramps will typically have muscular pain and need to drink fluids, he said.
When heat exhaustion occurs, it becomes more serious because the body has fluids and becomes dehydrated. A patient with heat exhaustion will likely have a headache, nausea, dizziness and vertigo and may have an “achy feeling,” Knight said. A patient with heat exhaustion usually has cool skin that is pale and moist because they are able to sweat, but they still should seek medical treatment, Knight said.
The most serious of the three conditions is a heat stroke, which can “sneak up” on a person, Knight said, and become deadly.
“The body’s cooling mechanism fails and the body temperature goes up so fast that it may damage the brain — and death can occur,” Knight said. A person suffering a heat stroke usually has dry skin because they’re unable to sweat; they become lethargic and need to immediately be cooled off, he said. Anyone suffering from a heat stroke will need an ambulance right away, Knight said.
While the heat and lack of proper fluids can cause any of these heat illnesses, Knight said alcohol use increases dehydration, along with excessive exercise. Medical conditions, such as heart disease or those who take medications like diuretics for high blood pressure, are often more susceptible to heat illnesses, he said.
Because of the intense heat, the Pottawatomie County Health Department is offering tips to residents for protecting their health.
“The elderly, infants and young children are at higher risk of heat-related illnesses. They may not be able to adjust to increases in air temperatures, or may take medications that decrease their ability to deal with heat,” said Pottawatomie County Health Department Administrative Director Tina R. Johnson. “Heat precautions are also advised for persons with heart, lung or kidney problems and persons whose occupations require them to work outdoors.”
Knight said the elderly become hotter than they realize and may sip on drinks rather than taking in enough fluids. Those who work outside in the heat also are advised to take breaks and drink plenty of water. Sports drinks that replace electrolytes, such as Gatorade, also are a good idea, he said.
“The key is prevention,” Knight said.
To reduce the potential for heat-related illnesses, Johnson said everyone should drink more fluids, regardless of their activity level.
“Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink,” she said, and those who are limited by doctors on the amount of fluid they drink because of water pills should ask how much to drink in hot weather.
Other tips to avoid heat-related problems, include:
• Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar.
• Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If no air conditioning is available, she said a shopping mall or public library is a good place to visit.
• Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperatures are in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
For those who must be out in the heat, Johnson suggests limiting outdoor activity to morning and evening hours and also offers these tips:
• Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals lost in sweat, however, those on a low-salt diet should talk to their doctor before drinking a sports beverage, she said.
• Try to rest often in shady areas and block the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
“If you experience signs of heat stress such as dizziness, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, nausea, cramps, throbbing headache, dry skin (no sweating), chest pain, great weakness, mental changes, breathing problems, or vomiting, contact your health care provider immediately,” Johnson said.
