The Dog Days of Summer – Heat Illness Waiting to Happen
Post by Kevin Macpherson, Pivotal Health Solutions
As summer winds down and we start to get the kids ready for back to school we are not out of the woods yet when it comes to heat illness. This summer has seen its share of wacky weather and it may not be over, super high heat in the south and east mild in the west, hard to predict. One thing we can do to protect ourselves is know the signs and symptoms of heat illness and what to do to avoid overheating. There are two types of overheating conditions to be aware of; heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Heat stroke is the more dangerous of the two and can be life threatening medical emergency. Signs of heat stroke to watch out for are:
· Increased body temperature · No sweating with hot red skin · Confusion and disorientation · Rapid pulse with difficulty breathing
Heat exhaustion on the other hand is much more common however, can be dangerous as well. Signs of heat exhaustion to watch out for are:
· Nausea and vomiting · Headache · Fatigue and muscle cramping · Dizziness · Sever thirst
We can all enjoy the end of summer and the Labor Day holiday by remembering to drink plenty of water, stay out of the direct sun if possible and watch out for our fellow Americans by knowing the signs of heat illness.