Stay hydrated.
It’s especially important to drink water, even more than you normally would, is
the CDC’s recommendation.
Avoid using the stove
or oven. These appliances will only make your home warmer. Try meal options
such as salads, chilled soups, and sandwiches.
Keep in touch. If
you live alone, ask a neighbor, family member, or friend to check on you. Do
the same for them or another person.
Remain indoors.
Once the temperatures reach the 90s, it’s best to try and remain in an air
conditioned setting. The CDC says even a few hours spent inside a shopping mall
or public library can help you stay cooler. The local health department can
also direct you to any heat relief shelters.
Take cool
baths/showers. This will help cool your body down, and according to the
CDC, can be more effective than electric
fans in times of very high heat.
Apply sunscreen. Wear
a lip balm with SPF 15 and choose a sunscreen that is at least SPF 15 or
higher.
Know the symptoms of heat-related illnesses. Symptoms of
heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, feeling weak and/or confused,
dizziness, nausea, headache, fast heartbeat, and dark-colored urine.
Heat stroke is defined when the internal body temperature
reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Symptoms of heat stroke include vomiting, high
fever, severe headache, lack of sweating, muscle weakness or cramps, nausea,
and more. Heat stroke is much more dangerous than heat exhaustion, and can
cause damage to the organs and the brain.
The weather becomes more dangerous as temperatures rise, and
we encourage you to stay safe this summer.
Information
compiled from the Centers for Disease Control and FamilyDoctor.org
Carrie Bui, Communications Specialist
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