Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness
July 22, 2021By: Michael McGee
Categories: Live Healthy, Prevention, Your Wellness
When temperatures rise, so does your risk for heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heatstroke, which is the most serious.
Although anyone can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others, including:
- Infants and young children
- People 65 years of age or older
- People who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take medication for depression, insomnia or poor circulation.
Fortunately, heat-related illnesses are preventable.
Stay Cool
- Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
- Stay in the air-conditioning place as much as possible.
- Limit your outdoor activities to early morning and evening.
- Check your local news for extreme heat alerts, safety tips and locations of cooling shelters in your area.
Stay Hydrated
- Drink more water, even when you aren’t active.
- Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink.
- Limit sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages, which can you to lose more body fluid.
- Avoid really cold drinks because they can cause stomach cramps.
- Drink a low-sugar sports drink to replace salt and minerals lost by heavy sweating.
Keep Children and Pets Safe
- Vehicles can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with the windows cracked open.
- When you leave your vehicle, make sure children and pets hop out, too.
- Provide plenty of fresh water in a shady area for pets that spend a lot of time outside.
- Make sure young children drink plenty of water.
