Ten Ways to Stay Safe and Well When Temperatures Soar | Newswise: News for Journalists

Ten Ways to Stay Safe and Well When Temperatures Soar | Newswise: News for Journalists:

Dehydration, sunburn, heatstroke, insect bites, rashes, and lacerations – summer can spell health meltdown with a seemingly endless list of unsightly, uncomfortable, and potentially lethal hazards.



“I estimate more than 90% of heat-related health complaints can be avoided if you’re aware of the dangers and follow the necessary advice. It’s often about using common sense, which can slip our minds when we’re feeling hot and bothered,” said Deepa Iyengar, MD, MPH, professor of family and community medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth.
To stay vigilant about health and safety, Iyengar recommends having one thing at hand.
“It’s easy to be forgetful in the heat, so I tell all my patients to create a summer survival bag and take it everywhere. Fill it with all the essentials like sunscreen, insect repellent, and water containing electrolytes. Add to it as you go, so you have everything at your fingertips in one place,” said Iyengar, medical director of family medicine at UT Physicians, the clinical practice of McGovern Medical School.
To reduce your chances of seeing the inside of doctor’s office instead of the great outdoors, follow these tips:

1. Stay hydrated

If you’re soaked in sweat, it’s definitely time to pour yourself a strictly non-alcoholic drink. Dehydration can happen fast in high temperatures – thirst, dry mouth, dark yellow urine, dry and cool skin, headache, and muscle cramps are all common symptoms. Drinking enough fluids is one of the most important things you can do to prevent heat illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Dehydration is the No. 1 issue, especially among older people who are often out doing yardwork and, because body water content decreases with age, are at an increased risk of having problems,” Iyengar said. “Seniors may also have heart conditions, which restrict fluid intake, so they should be sure to talk to their physicians about how to regulate this.”
Water will normally maintain hydration during work in the heat, providing you eat regular meals to replace salt lost in sweat. If you’re sweating for several hours, sports drinks with balanced electrolytes can help. Steer clear of alcohol as it increases water loss and reduces the ability to notice signs of dehydration.

2. Protect your skin

There’s no such thing as a healthy tan, so be sure to guard against the sun’s harmful rays. Use a broad spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30. Don’t forget to reapply every two hours, or after 80 minutes if you are sweating or swimming.
“Even if you’re in a shady area with lots of trees, you can still burn because the sun is so strong and ozone levels may be low,” Iyengar warned.
Clothing with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) is another good option – UPF 50 is best, and remember that only the areas covered are protected, so you’ll still need sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology has more sunscreen advice.

3. Be swim-savvy

If you are out on the water, make sure everyone in your party has a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. If swimming at a pool, keep a close eye on children and never let them swim alone. Remember that water wings or noodles are no substitute.
“Pool injuries are common. Parents should make sure their children wear slip-resistant shoes and screen the pool area for danger spots,” Iyengar said. “Tell them where it’s safe to dive, so they don’t hit their heads.”
Sticking to well-maintained pools and well-monitored beaches will also help lower your risk of coming down with waterborne illnesses.
At the beach, be aware of hazards and weather conditions, check for rip tide information in the area, and stay in designated areas with lifeguards. The American Red Cross has more safety tips.

4. Speaking of pools

Pools can be dangerous even when you’re not swimming. According to the CDC, unintentional drowning claims the lives of around 10 people every day in the U.S. with children ages 1 to 4 most vulnerable. Among that age group, most drownings occur in home swimming pools. That’s why teaching children to swim, providing close supervision, and creating barriers including fencing between the pool area and house, are vital. Remove floats, balls, and other toys from the pool so children aren’t tempted to enter the pool area unsupervised.

5. Hot cars kill

Hot cars can be death traps for children. According to the National Safety Council, a record 52 children died last year from heat-related deaths after being trapped inside vehicles. Even with windows left slightly open, the temperature inside a car can increase by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes. Preventive measures include teaching children that the car is not a safe place to play, keeping car keys out of their reach, putting something you need in the back seat when transporting a child, and utilizing apps or new technology that use sensors to alert parents or caregivers that a child is still in the car.

6. Workers should acclimatize

Before working in hot conditions, it’s important to help the body adjust, a process called acclimatization. Typically, acclimatization should be done over a seven- to 14-day period, according to the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The U.S. Department of Labor recommends that workloads should be increased incrementally with workers taking more breaks as they acclimatize. Outdoor workers should also regularly seek shade, drink plenty of water, and know the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
“Workers like lawn service crews, construction workers, lifeguards, and camp leaders are at high risk and need to be particularly careful,” Iyengar said.

7. Get your grill on message

Keep meat, poultry, and seafood refrigerated until ready to grill. When transporting, keep below 40 degrees in an insulated cooler. Your grill, utensils, and hands all need to be squeaky clean before you begin. Use a food thermometer to ensure meat is cooked hot enough to kill harmful germs. Avoid cross-contamination by using clean utensils and a clean plate to remove cooked meat from the grill. Remember to put leftovers in the fridge or freezer within two hours of cooking or one hour if it’s hotter than 90 degrees outside. The CDC has further guidance.

8. Once bitten, twice wise

Most insect bites are harmless, but some can spread dangerous diseases like Zika virus, dengue, Lyme disease, and malaria. It’s important to take precautions, especially if you are visiting areas with known insect-borne diseases. To protect against mosquitoes, ticks, and other bugs, use insect repellent that contains 20 to 30% DEET on exposed skin and clothing. Don’t forget to apply your sunscreen first. Cover exposed skin as much as possible by wearing long-sleeved shirts, pants, socks, and closed shoes instead of sandals. If camping, use bed nets, preferably pretreated with pyrethroid insecticide, to protect against mosquitoes. Pay attention to outbreaks by checking CDC Travel Health Notices and following recommendations.

9. Camp and party safely

Whether you’re spending a night under the stars, planning a get-together on the beach, or going to a pool party, there are pitfalls that could get in your way of having a good time.
“Making sure you have the right strength of insect repellent for the situation is only half the battle. I see all sorts of injuries, including lacerations from cutting mishaps, wood splinters in the eye, and burns from campfires,” Iyengar said. “Even when in high spirits, you have to be on your guard. Keep long hair tied back and don’t wear perfumes and scented creams, which are flammable.”
Alcohol consumption only exacerbates the risks, as it impairs both physical and mental abilities, as well as decreasing inhibitions. In fact, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, research shows that up to 70% of all water recreation deaths of teens and adults involve the use of alcohol.
Even when you’re not partying, alcohol and heat are a lethal cocktail, as the fluid lost from sweating in addition to increased urination can quickly lead to dehydration or heatstroke. That’s another reason to rethink your drink and stick to nonalcoholic options.

10. Chill out

When temperatures go sky-high, are you more prone to hitting the roof? You’re not alone. According to the Association for Psychological Science, researchers have observed a correlation between hot weather and hotter tempers.
So it makes sense to try and keep your cool in more ways than one. The CDC advises staying in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible; drinking plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty; wearing loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing; and taking cool showers or baths to cool down. Using the stove or oven to cook will make you and your home hotter, so firing up the grill outside a

Summer survival: How to stay out of harm’s way when temperatures heats up | Newswise: News for Journalists

Summer survival: How to stay out of harm’s way when temperatures heats up

| Newswise: News for Journalists: Summer brings lots of sunshine and fun, but the high temperatures and sweltering humidity can spell disaster if you’re not prepared.

Two emergency medicine experts share some of the most common heat-related illnesses they treat, as well as tips to avoid landing in the emergency room this summer.

Heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion can occur when the body is not able to properly cool itself in hot weather and starts to overheat.
“Heat exhaustion is the most common heat-related illness we see in the emergency room,” said Henry Wang, MD, professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, who also sees patients at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center. “It’s not just people who are new to hot conditions that are affected. Awareness of the heat can actually lull you into a false sense of security. We end up treating a lot of people who think they are acclimated to the high temperatures, but heat stress can be a lot more powerful than they realize.”
Sweating is the body’s cooling mechanism. If the body depletes its reserve of salts and fluids, but is still exposed to high temperatures, heat exhaustion can occur.
“The evaporation of the sweat pulls heat off the body and regulates its temperature,” Wang said. “However, in humid climates, sweating is not as effective as it is in dry climates due to the increased moisture in the air. If you notice that you have stopped sweating while you are out in the heat, this may be a late sign of heat exhaustion and it would be best to take a break and rehydrate.”
Usually, the beginning signs of heat exhaustion are feeling hot, dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseated. Other symptoms include headaches; cramps; strong pulse; fainting; hot, red, and dry skin; excessive sweating; and a lack of sweating, which is a late symptom that signals the depletion of the body’s fluid and salt reserve.
Heatstroke
Heat exhaustion left unchecked can lead to heatstroke, which can occur when the body’s core temperature reaches 104-106 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
“As the body temperature goes up, the heart begins to fail, fluid in the lungs starts to back up, and the body starts to makes lactic acid, putting the organs, especially the kidneys, at risk. The body can go into a coma, which could result in brain damage and sometimes even death,” Wang said.
When heat exhaustion starts to move toward heatstroke, the central nervous system begins to shut down, which can lead to symptoms of confusion, hallucinations, coma, seizures, and/or disorientation.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 334 people die per year from heatstroke in the U.S.
There are two types of heatstroke: exertional and non-exertional. Exertional heatstroke occurs in young people who are generally healthy, but who may not be acclimated to the heat while being active outdoors. Non-exertional heatstroke predominantly affects the more vulnerable populations, including older people, the chronically ill, children, and infants.
When the temperature is at or above 90 degrees, everyone should take precautions against heatstroke. However, heatstroke can happen anytime, depending on your body temperature relative to the conditions outside.
“It can be 80 degrees and humid and if you’re exercising, your body can become overly stressed,” Wang said. “Always listen to your body and stay vigilant.”
Hot car deaths
Spending time in a hot car puts the body at risk of heatstroke, especially for young children.
According to the safety organization Kids and Cars, on average 38 children in the U.S. die each year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle. Texas and Florida have had the most hot car deaths involving children age 14 and under, with Texas recording 125 fatalities since 1990.
“In Houston alone, about one or two kids pass away tragically each year from spending too much time in a hot car,” said Samuel Prater, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at McGovern Medical School and the medical director of Memorial Hermann-TMC’s Emergency Department. “It’s never acceptable, in any circumstance, to leave children in a car that is turned off, even if you crack the windows.”
Even with windows left slightly open, the temperature inside the car can increase by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes.
“Even if it is only 57 degrees outside, heatstroke can occur, so parents must be vigilant when traveling with their children in tow. They also must keep an eye on their kids at all times while at home, as 30 percent of heatstroke deaths happen because the child got in the car without the caregiver knowing,” Wang said.
Some tips to avoid leaving children in a hot car:

• Don’t leave car keys in places that are easily accessible to children 
• Teach children that the car is not a safe place to play
• Keep fold-down seats closed to prevent kids from climbing in the trunk
• When transporting a child, put something you need in the backseat, like a purse, briefcase, backpack, or shoe
• Utilize apps and new technology that use sensors to alert parents or caregivers that a child is still in the car

Dehydration
Dehydration – when your body doesn’t have as much water as it needs – can happen very quickly in high temperatures as the body increases its sweat production.
Signs of dehydration include thirst, dry mouth, dark yellow urine, dry and cool skin, headache, and muscle cramps.
“Make sure to stay hydrated with any kind of liquid except for drinks filled with sugar or alcohol,” Prater said. “Sports drinks or Pedialyte, something with salt and minerals included, are best.”
Wang notes that drinking an excess of just plain water can actually dilute your salt level, which can cause confusion, seizures, and death.
“If you start to become dehydrated, remove any warm or bulky clothing and get air and cold water on the body as fast as you can,” Wang said. “This can be done using fans, wet towels, or even immersing your feet and hands in cold water. Taking these proactive steps can help prevent dehydration from turning into full-blown heat exhaustion and heatstroke.”
Advice for anyone planning to spend time outdoors

• Make sure you have access to shade
• Stay hydrated with sports drinks and water
• Pace yourself
• Wear sunscreen of sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher
• Dress in lightweight, light-colored clothing
• Eat regular meals

Additional advice for outdoor workers

• Pay attention to your body and take breaks when necessary
• Consider wearing lightweight clothing with SPF
• Stay in shape
• Acclimate your body before working in hot conditions
  • According to the CDC, heat acclimation is the improvement in heat tolerance that comes from gradually increasing the intensity or duration of work time in hot conditions
  • Best results come from increasing exposure over a period of seven to 14 days, cooling off and fully rehydrating between shifts
  • Typically, acclimation requires at least two hours of heat exposure per day
  • To fully acclimate, the same work that will be performed must be done during the acclimatization period
  • Acclimation will be maintained for a few days after heat exposure stops, but will begin to be lost after about a week