It’s miserably hot out. Here’s how to protect yourself from heat exhaustion and stroke
Extreme heat kills more than 600 people in the United States every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But heat-related illnesses and deaths are preventable, the CDC says. As a heat wave grips much of the country, it’s important to know the symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, the difference between them and how to stay safe.
Parts of the East Coast are under a heat advisory or extreme heat warning, according to the National Weather Service. The Northwest, which has previously been spared from brutally hot weather, is expected to see temperatures climb into triple digits, AccuWeather predicts.
Although record-setting temperatures have let up a bit in some areas of the Southwest, it’s still “blisteringly hot,” CNN reports. Heat advisories were also in effect over the weekend in much of the Midwest.
Overall, about 90% of the country is expected to feel temperatures above the 90s this week, per CNN.
This comes as the weather service last month predicted July would bring “potentially historic” temperatures, McClatchy News previously reported.
If you plan to go out in the heat, here’s what to know about heat illness:
Heat-related illnesses, like heat stroke and heat exhaustion, occur when the body can’t cool itself down like it’s supposed to, according to the CDC.
Heat exhaustion
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, dizziness, headache, weakness, fainting, a weak pulse, cramps and “cold, pale and clammy skin,” according to the CDC.
If showing these signs, a person should move to a cooler place, loosen clothing, put on cool cloths, sip water, or take a cool bath, the CDC said.
A person should seek medical attention if throwing up or if symptoms worsen or last longer than an hour. If ignored, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke, the most severe heat-related illness, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Heat stroke
Symptoms of heat stroke include a body temperature of over 103 degrees, a fast pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and loss of consciousness, according to the CDC.
“Generally with heat exhaustion, a patient is sweating a lot, whereas with heat stroke, they’ve stopped sweating and are actually dry. It’s a good rule of thumb but isn’t always true,” Peter Sananman, emergency medicine assistant professor at Penn Medicine, told AccuWeather.
If a person is experiencing symptoms of heat stroke, someone should call 911 and the person should be moved to a cooler place and given cool cloths or a cool bath. However, they should not be given anything to drink, the CDC says.
How to stay safe
The CDC recommends people stay in air conditioning as much as possible and schedule time outside during the coolest parts of the day.
It’s best to wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen when outside, the CDC says.
It’s also important to stay hydrated and limit the amount of exercise done in the heat. If working in the heat, people should monitor their co-workers, the CDC says.
The CDC also recommends watching out for extreme heat alerts and knowing about nearby cooling shelters.
This story was originally published July 20, 2020 at 12:39 PM.
