Heat Wave Safety

By Rose Ellen O'Connor, Volunteer

As a 20-something newspaper reporter in Norfolk, I covered a lot of catastrophes but never thought the warnings applied to me. I was always the removed observer. And so I ignored a heat advisory on a steamy August morning in the late 1980s.

By 8 a.m., temperatures were already in the 90s and so was the percent of humidity. The forecast called for temperatures to climb above 100 degrees later that day. I didn’t let it stop me from my routine hour-long jog. Afterwards, I showered and dressed. I was in a hurry to get to the courthouse, where I was covering a hearing. I drank my coffee quickly, then poured myself a glass of water, took a couple of sips and poured out the rest. I didn’t want to be late.

The courthouse was only three-quarters of a mile from my townhouse and I jogged there so I wouldn’t have to worry about parking. By the time I walked through the doors to the courthouse, my skin was flushed and I felt dizzy, weak and nauseated. In the cool air conditioning, I practically collapsed on the bench outside the courtroom, where the hearing I was covering was going to be held. Luckily, one of the lawyers waiting for the hearing knew the signs of heat exhaustion and how to deal with it. He got me a water bottle and told me to sip it slowly and fanned me with a newspaper. Gradually, I felt better. It could have been far worse.

According to the Red Cross, heat exhaustion can quickly lead to heat stroke, a life-threatening condition in which a person’s temperature-control system stops working and the body is unable to cool itself. Signs of heat exhaustion include hot red skin that may be moist or dry, changes in consciousness, vomiting and high body temperature. The Red Cross recommends calling 9-1-1 or the local emergency number if someone shows signs of heat stroke. We also advise moving the person to a cooler place; quickly cooling the person’s body by immersing him up to his neck in cold water if possible; and if not, dousing or spraying the person with cold water or covering the person with cold, wet towels or bags of ice.

On that sweltering morning in August, I was lucky not to have suffered heat stroke. I had ignored advice from the Red Cross on how to avoid it, but the lawyer who helped me had, knowingly or not, followed the steps recommended by Red Cross in the event of heat exhaustion. The Red Cross advises avoiding caffeine; I drank coffee. It advises staying hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty; I failed to drink even one glass of water. It advises slowing down and avoiding strenuous activity; I jogged for an hour and then rushed to the courthouse. It recommends avoiding extreme temperature changes; I went from jogging in the heat to standing the air-onditioned courthouse.

The Red Cross offers these other tips for dealing with extreme heat and humidity:

• Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
• Eat small meals and eat more often.
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
• Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat.
• Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors.
• Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
• Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat.

The Red Cross offers these tips in the event of heat exhaustion:

• Move the person to a cooler place.
• Remove or loosen tight clothing and spray the person with water or apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin.
•  Fan the person.
• If they are conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly.
• Watch for changes in condition.
• If the person refuses water, vomits or begins to lose consciousness, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.

For more on how to stay safe during a heat wave and how to treat heat-related illness like heat exhaustion, visit our website here.

Heat Wave Safety

Written by: Morgan Terry, volunteer

Residents of DC, Maryland and Virginia have seen a spike in summer temperatures over the past few years from one of the greatest global problems, climate change. Heat related illnesses are extremely threatening:

• According to the Maryland Department of Health, heat related illnesses were responsible for over 70 deaths from 1999 to 2010
• In the summer of June 2016, the Baltimore City Health department issued a Code Red Heat Advisory for the city, as temperatures rose to 109 degrees, the highest recorded temperature the state of Maryland had ever seen

Nevertheless, disasters can be avoided with the proper precautions. That is why the American Red Cross is urging all residents to recognize the symptoms of heat related illnesses, like heat exhaustion, and offering ways to prepare for high temperatures.
 
TIPS:
 
STAYING INDOORS: Staying out of the sun and in a cool, shady area is the best thing to do during extremely high heat conditions. Be aware of when heat waves are approaching by listening to the news and plan to remain in an air-conditioned location until it’s safe to go back outside. If your house does not have a functioning air conditioning system, make plans to go to a place that you know does, like a mall or church, ahead of time. Indoors is the best place to be – even pools and waterparks are dangerous places to be in high heat.
 
IF YOU MUST BE OUTDOORS: Keep your time spent outdoors as brief as possible. Wear loose, light-colored clothing and a hat to shield your eyes and face from the sun. Take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water. Employ the buddy system by avoiding going anywhere on your own and limit your exertion of energy as much as possible (i.e. no sports, outdoor games, strenuous manual labor, etc.)
 
KEEPING OTHERS SAFE: Do not, for any reason, leave children or pets in the car – not even for less than moment. Check on your neighbors and pets frequently, as animals cannot vocalize when they are becoming heat-stricken or dehydrated. Recognize the signs of heat-related illnesses such as dizziness, moist and flushed skin, nausea, headache, weakness and exhaustion. Heat-related illnesses get progressively worse in a short amount of time if they are unrecognized and untreated.
 
First Aid and Pet First Aid are two helpful apps to help you and your pets stay safe during heat waves. 

Visit www.redcross.org for more safety information.

Heat Wave Safety

This summer is turning out to be a hot one, as usual, so if you have not yet seen our tips for heat waves or need a refresher, keep reading this post to find out!

A few important things about heat waves:

• A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessive heat, generally when the thermometer goes up 10 degrees or more above the average, with often excessive humidity
• Do not underestimate heat waves. Though they can be less dangerous than other weather events, they are the most lethal weather phenomenon in the United States

It is important to stay aware of possible heat wave situations. The best way to stay informed is to listen to the weather forecast. Here are the terms weather forecasters use when referring to heat waves:

• Excessive heat watch – It is expected that the heat index (the temperature you feel, affected by temperature and humidity levels) will go up to 105°F during the day
• Heat advisory – For two consecutive days, the heat index has reached at least 105°F but less than 115°F during the day, for a duration of less than three hours per day
• Excessive heat warning – For two consecutive days, the heat index has reached at least 105°F for more than three hours per day or 115°F at any time

 What you can do to prepare yourself for a heat wave:

• Check that your emergency disaster kit is up to date, in case of a power outage
• If you do not have air conditioning, pick a few places where you can go during the warmest parts of the day, such as shopping malls or libraries
• Get trained in first aid at the Red Cross to be able to assist and respond to extreme situations

 What you can do during a heat wave:

• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio to get live updates on the heat wave
• Favor indoor activities over outdoor activities, which you should postpone if necessary to cooler parts of the day
• If you can't delay outdoor activities, take small breaks
• Even if you don't feel thirsty, drink as much as possible, preferably water and avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine
• Check on family, friends and neighbors, especially those who live alone or in places with no air conditioning
• Don't forget your little buddies! Animals also suffer from the heat and need to be checked on. The best thing is to ensure they are not too exposed to heat and that they always have fresh water within grasp
•  Hot cars are deadly during heat waves, because the temperature can climb very easily to 120°F. Never leave your children or pets in a car during a heat wave, even with the windows open or for a few minutes

 Here are some heat-related illnesses to watch out for:

•  Heat cramps – Heat cramps are muscular pain that often occur in the abdomen or the legs. They are a sign that the body is not coping well with the heat. The best thing to do in this case is to get the person to a cooler place, to slowly stretch and massage the muscle and to give them an electrolyte-containing drink, such as a sports drink and water
•  Heat exhaustion – Heat exhaustion is a more severe condition than heat cramps. Heat exhaustion signs include cool, moist, pale, ashen or flushed skin, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, and exhaustion. In case of heat exhaustion, move the person to a cooler place, remove as many clothes as possible and apply wet towels on the body. If the person is conscious, give them small amounts of water and fruits. If the person has a change in consciousness, or refuses water, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number
•  Heat stroke – Heat stroke is a life threatening condition. A heat stroke often occurs when the signs of heat exhaustion have been ignored. The signs of a heat stroke are often a very high body temperature, a red skin which may be dry or moist, changes in consciousness, a rapid pulse, a shallow breathing, confusion, vomiting, and seizures. If witnessing a heat stroke, remember that it is life threatening and immediately call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. Also, try to cool the temperature of the body as much as you can, by immersing the body in cold water, or covering it with bags of ice

Do not forget that animals can also be subject to heat strokes, especially dogs with short noses or snouts such as bulldogs or boxers. If you notice that your pet has difficulties getting up, or an abnormally fast heartbeat, take their temperature rectally. If the temperature is above 105°F, cool the animal down until they reach a body temperature of 103°F. The easiest way to do that is by using a water hose. Also, take your pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

To read more about Heat waves, visit http://rdcrss.org/29fSCgZ

July in a Nutshell

Is It Hot In Here Or Is It Just Me?

By Squiggy the Squirrel

Phew, just when I thought June was bad, July got even worse. My tree house A/C bill has been out of the leaves!

When we venture outside it's important to check the weather and know the temperature especially when heat waves are in effect. Do you know the differences between watches, warnings, and advisories?

• Excessive Heat Advisory - Heat Index values are forecasting to meet locally defined advisory criteria for 1 to 2 days (daytime highs = 100-105 degrees Fahrenheit). 
• Excessive Heat Warning - Heat Index values are forecasting to meet or exceed locally defined warning criteria for at least 2 days (daytime highs = 105-110 degrees Fahrenheit)
• Excessive Heat Watch - Conditions are favorable for an excessive heat event to meet or exceed Excessive Heat Warning criteria in the next 24 to 72 hours.

A lot of people get confused on the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke and it's important to know about these two conditions. 

Heat exhaustion involves the loss of body fluids through heavy sweating during strenuous exercise in high heat and humidity (like when my buddies and I kick the acorn around). 

Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition in which a person’s temperature control system stops working and the body is unable to cool itself (like when my buddies and I kick the acorn around and we go into double overtime).

If you think you’re having a heat stroke or heat exhaustion make sure to call 911 ASAP, you can never be too safe.

Make sure to keep your body hydrated during these high heats. You should be drinking at least seven glasses a day to keep your body in tip-top shape!

For heat safety and many other lifesaving information, make sure to download the Red Cross First Aid app on your smartphone! Share with family and friends so that they’re prepared and cool, just like you!

xo, 

Squiggy