ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. -- Tennessee weather is very entertaining.
When I moved here 40 years ago, I was told, “If you don’t like the weather, wait 30 minutes and it will change.” I thought they were exaggerating.
NOPE.
When summer comes, it gets hot. The humidity will add its two cents’ worth in making it feel even hotter. If that is not enough, Tennessee will happily provide thunderstorms and tornadoes to keep you entertained and on your toes.
I know we talk about heat illness often, but there is a reason. With my years in safety, I have worked with many people who were hurt badly or were sick enough that I had to call an ambulance. There were heart attacks, strokes, diabetic episodes, amputations, broken bones and other injuries of all kinds. But, by far, I have had to call an ambulance more times for someone that was overheated than all other things combined.
The American Red Cross tells us that heat illness happens when the body can no longer cool itself. That happens when sweating causes the loss of fluids and electrolytes. When enough fluids are lost through sweating and are not replaced, you are unable to sweat, which is the body’s primary mechanism for cooling. When sweat evaporates, it takes heat with it.
- Heat cramps – Painful muscle spasms usually in the legs and abdomen.
- Treatment – Stop activity. Move to a cooler environment. Drink cool water or sports drinks in small sips. Gently stretch and massage the affected muscles and watch for symptoms to improve. If symptoms worsen or last more than an hour, seek medical attention.
- Heat exhaustion – Could include heavy sweating, cool clammy skin, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, muscle cramps and confusion.
- Treatment – Move to a cooler environment. Offer cool water or sports drinks in small sips. Use cool compresses or fan the person and watch for symptoms to improve. If symptoms worsen or last more than 30 minutes, seek medical attention.
- Heat stroke – Heat stroke is the least common and most severe. The body’s cooling system is completely overwhelmed and stops working. Heat stroke is life threatening. Symptoms include a very high temperature (104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), confusion, altered mental state, slurred speech, seizures, loss of consciousness, hot dry skin or heavy sweating, rapid breathing and heart rate, and nausea or vomiting.
- Treatment – Call 911 immediately. Try aggressive cooling using ice packs or getting the skin wet and fanning the person to promote evaporation. You may need to loosen clothing. Do not give fluids to someone with heat stroke as they may choke.
Prevention is the key. Do not ever let it go that far. Stay hydrated. If you wait until you feel thirsty you are already behind. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Take breaks and watch out for each other.
Heat illness is no joke. People die from it. Whether at work, home or play, pay attention to heat illness symptoms.