Warm weather is a favorite for many individuals, it signals the end of winter and the beginning of summer as well as the beginning of many outdoor activities. Whilst warm weather can be enjoyable, heat waves can occur during this period. Heat waves are regarded as one of the most dangerous severe weather events that occur in the US and can affect our health. This article will explore heat wave safety and tips to keep you cool and safe during these times.
A heat wave is a period of extreme heat and can also include extreme humidity, especially by the coast. To make you aware of heat waves, the National Weather Service issues three different types of warnings.
This is effectively a warning that there is a potential heat wave within the next three to seven days. This gives individuals time to prepare for the heat wave.
This warning is when there is a risk of a heat wave occurring in the next 24 to 72 hours. This warning is given when the risk of a heat wave has increased. However, the timing of the wave is uncertain.
This warning is given when a heat wave is occurring within the next 12 hours. This warning helps individuals to take action during the wave and to practice heat wave safety.
To some individuals, heat waves may just appear to be warm weather. However, heat waves can affect our health negatively. During heat waves, there are three different types of heat-related conditions that you may experience. These conditions arise due to a loss of fluids and salt.
These are cramps that generally occur in the abdomen, arms, and legs and are due to a loss of fluids and salt. If you do experience heat cramps, stop the activity you are currently doing and move to a cool place. Drink water or a sports drink if you are exercising and only resume exercising when the cramps have stopped. If however, the cramps do not stop after one hour, it is important to seek medical assistance.
Heat exhaustion is more a serious condition and has many different symptoms. Some of the symptoms include:
If you are experiencing heat exhaustion or are with an individual experiencing this condition, move to a cool place, loosen any tight clothes, sip water and cool the body, either with a fan, mister, or cold shower.
If the following occurs, seek medical assistance immediately:
This is the most serious heat condition and can result in death if there is no medical assistance.
Symptoms to look out for are:
If you or someone you know starts experiencing one or more of these symptoms, call 911. Once you have called 911, make sure that the individual is in a cool place, and try to cool down the body with a fan, mister, or cold bath. It is important to not give the person anything to drink and wait for medical assistance to arrive.
Whilst these conditions are serious, they can be prevented through heat wave safety. The three pillars of heat wave safety are:
This one may be a surprise to many; however, it is important to keep connected with those around you. This can help you to prevent heat wave conditions in those around you and can also help you identify and assist the individual in need.
The elderly and young are more susceptible to heat distress. To keep connected, check in regularly with elderly relatives, friends, and neighbors. When you visit them, be aware of their surroundings, whether it is cool or not, if they are drinking adequate fluids, and if they show signs of heat stress. If you have infants and young children, help them practice heat wave safety and be aware of whether they start to experience signs of heat distress.
If you are traveling with others, never leave any infants, toddlers, young children, older adults, and pets in the car. Even if a window is open, temperatures in cars can increase quickly.
During heat waves, it is important to drink fluids regularly. Do not wait until you are thirsty, as thirst is a sign of dehydration.
Water or a sports drink is a good idea as it helps to replace the water as well as the salts that are lost during sweating. Try to stay away from alcoholic, caffeinated or carbonated drinks. Whilst an icy cold drink may seem like a good idea, icy drinks can aggravate cramping, so opt for chilled water instead.
It's also important to ensure that those living in your household as well as your pets have access to fluids to prevent heat distress.
If you currently have a medical condition and are on fluid restriction, contact your healthcare provider for guidance on the amount of fluid you can safely drink.
During heatwaves, keeping cool is vital. Good ways to do this include the following:
If you can, limit the use of your stove and oven as this generates heat. If the indoor temperature is above 95°F, using an electric fan may not be as helpful as you hope. Some studies suggest electric fans can cause your body to gain heat rather than cool it down. Fans also increase sweating, so you may need to work extra hard to stay hydrated if you use one. In addition, they can increase the strain on the power grid and the risk of power failure.
During heat waves, there is an increase in the usage of electrical appliances, which can put pressure on the supplier and can cause power outages. If you do experience a power outage there few steps you can take.
Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) is a term that refers to a group of symptoms that an individual can experience in response to stress. Your body can cope with short-term stress through the adrenal glands and the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response system. The adrenal glands release hormones in response to stress and the NEM system supports your adrenal glands.
Six circuits make up the NEM system and three organs make up each circuit. The circuits are the hormonal, bioenergetics, detoxification, inflammation, neuroaffect, and cardionomic circuit. AFS happens when high cortisol levels, the stress hormone produced by the adrenals, cause an imbalance in one of these circuits. The symptoms of AFS will be dependent on where the imbalance is.
In AFS the body becomes very sensitive to external factors and products, and this includes heat. Excess heat increases the release of hormones such as cortisol in the body. In AFS the hormones can be imbalanced and heat can aggravate this imbalance, causing a worsening in symptoms. An excess of heat will also stimulate the nervous system to react to the heat. In response, your body will cool down through sweating and other bodily processes. In AFS, your body may not have the ability to effectively cool yourself down, and this can increase your risk of developing heat distress.
Individuals with AFS experiencing heat waves, need to be careful and should use heat wave safety tips to keep their bodies cool. There are also some additional cautions to be aware of if you are experiencing AFS during a heat wave.
In AFS your body can become very sensitive to external products including sunscreen and sports drinks that are commonly used in heat waves. Before using any new products such as drinks or skin products for sun protection, discuss them with your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will be able to guide you in products for your body that will not only help you manage the heat wave but also will support your recovery and not hinder it.
If there is a power outage during the heat wave, be mindful to discard any spoiled foods in the fridge. Your body will be more sensitive to spoiled food and food poisoning will set you back in your recovery.
In the case of a heat wave, practicing heat wave safety can help protect you and those around you from heat distress. The basic points of heat wave safety are:
If you are finding that your body is becoming more sensitive in high temperatures, you can call the Dr. Lam team for guidance at +1 (626) 571-1234 for a free initial call or click here.
Heat wave safety is necessary during a heat wave to help prevent and relieve heat distress. Whilst everyone should practice heat wave safety, individuals who are at higher risk and should practice extra caution include the elderly, young children, individuals with chronic conditions, and individuals who work outside.
