Wellness Wednesday emails are designed to provide you with simple tools, information, and resources to encourage positive and healthy lifestyle choices. As a proud recipient of The Healthy Arizona Worksite Award, The Be Kind People Project is committed to the health and wellness of their employees, friends, and family.
Extreme Heat
The CDC defines extreme heat as temperatures that are typically way hotter and/or humid than a typical summer day. As the temperatures rise during these summer months, so does your risk of developing a heat-related illness. Let’s continue with our Summer Safety series by talking about how you can prevent these illnesses!
Heat-Related Illnesses
Heat-related illnesses occur when the body is not able to properly cool itself down. Normally our body cools itself off by sweating, but when it comes to extreme heat sweating is not enough. During extreme heat, your body’s temperature is rising faster than your body’s ability to cool down. This can cause serious damage to your brain and vital organs.
But what IS a heat-related illness?
It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of each of the heat-related illnesses so you can properly help those that may be showing symptoms. The good news is that heat-related illnesses are preventable. The CDC classifies the following as heat-related illnesses:
- Heat rashes: A small cluster of blisters that look like pimples on the skin.
- Sunburn: Painful, red, and warm skin. Can also cause blisters on the skin.
- Heat cramps: Excessive sweating during exercise followed by muscle pain or spasms.
- Heatstroke: Presented as cold, pale, clammy skin with excessive sweating, fast and weak pulse, tiredness, and muscle cramping.
- Heat exhaustion: Presented as high body temperature (over 103 degrees), hot skin, fast and strong pulse, confusion.
Click here for information on what to do if someone you know starts showing symptoms of a heat-related illness.
Tips for preventing heat-related illness
The best way to prevent heat-related illness is to stay indoors, but if you’re heading outside here are some tips to help you stay cool!
- Limit outdoor activities to when it’s coolest, like in the morning or evening. Stay in the shade so your body can recover.
- Stay hydrated, regardless of how active you are. Avoid or limit sugary drinks and alcohol as they cause you to lose more fluid. (Don’t forget to keep your pets hydrated as well!)
- Stay informed! Check your local news station for extreme heat alerts and cooling shelter locations. Cooling shelters are public spaces that provide free air conditioning for anyone and everyone! These include community centers, churches, and other community-based organizations.
- Use the buddy system! If you’re working in the heat or spending a lot of time outdoors, be sure to monitor those around you (and have them do the same for you!).
Stay cool this summer!
What is your favorite way to beat the heat during the summer? Do you have a favorite indoor activity, or do you like to make a splash in the water? Let us know!
Published July 22nd, 2020
By Krysta Flores, School Wellness Programs & Events Coordinator at BKPP
Questions? Comments? Want to contribute to the Wellness Wednesday Bulletin?
Send your ideas to Krysta Flores at krysta@bkpp.org.
