Heat Danger

With temperatures expected to rise to between 101 to 109 degrees this week, it is a good time to remind readers of how to recognize heat related illnesses and how to react to them. From the CDC:

Heat-related illness	What to look for	What to do
Heat stroke	High body temperature (103°F or higher) Hot, red, dry, or damp skin Fast, strong pulse Headache Feeling dizzy Nausea Feeling confused Losing consciousness (passing out)	Call 911 right away- heat stroke is a medical emergency Move the person to a cooler place Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath Do not give the person anything to drink
Heat exhaustion	Heavy sweating Cold, pale, and clammy skin Fast, weak pulse Nausea or vomiting Muscle cramps Feeling tired or weak Feeling dizzy Headache Fainting (passing out)	Move to a cool place Loosen your clothes Put cool, wet cloths on your body or take a cool bath Sip water Get medical help right away if: You are throwing up Your symptoms get worse Your symptoms last longer than 1 hour
Heat cramps	Heavy sweating during intense exercise Muscle pain or spasms	Stop physical activity and move to a cool place Drink water or a sports drink Wait for cramps to go away before you do any more physical activity Get medical help right away if: Cramps last longer than 1 hour You’re on a low-sodium diet You have heart problems
Sunburn	Painful, red, and warm skin Blisters on the skin	Stay out of the sun until your sunburn heals Put cool cloths on sunburned areas or take a cool bath Put moisturizing lotion on sunburned areas Do not break blisters
Heat rash	Red clusters of small blisters that look like pimples on the skin (usually on the neck, chest, groin, or in elbow creases)	Stay in a cool, dry place Keep the rash dry Use powder (like baby powder) to soothe the rash

Stay cool. Stay hydrated.

Related: Two Die From Heat in Franklin County After Becoming Dehydrated