Local Doctor Offers Tips on Staying Safe in Extremely Hot Weather

There’s no question we are in the midst of a severe heat wave with daily temperatures reaching into the mid-90’s and no significant rainfall in sight to cool us off.

That means there’s the potential for people who are out in the sun to suffer from heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Dr. David Yates is the Chief Medical Officer for St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia.

Dr. Yates said they have already started seeing heat-related illnesses coming in to the hospital each day.

So he’s offering some tips on how to stay safe if you have to be out doors for any length of time in the sun and heat.

First and foremost, Yates says it’s best to limit your outdoor activity.

“Physical activity increases heat production in the body,” he said. “One thing you can do is if you have to be outside is to limit your activity. You don’t want to get close to exhausted. And you want to try your best to limit your activity to early morning or late evening when temperatures are not at their highest.”

Yates said it’s also very important to stay hydrated, but by that he means drink plenty of water and stay away from caffeinated drinks, like Coke or iced tea or iced coffee as well as alcoholic beverages like beer.

Additionally, he says the elderly or those on certain prescriptions, like high-blood pressure medicine need to take extra precautions.

“Many, many people are being treated for hypertension or heart failure where they’re being given diaruetics purposely to reduce the level of fluids in the body,” Dr. Yates explained. “So those people need their medications adjusted downwards so they don’t become hypotensive during this type of heatwave.”

Dr. Yates said they have had three people come in so far this week with illnesses related to blood pressure medication dosages too high for this type of heat.

Additionally, Yates said children’s play time outdoors should also be limited to the early morning and late evening hours because they can succumb to heat exhaustion or heat stroke more quickly than adults.

And if you don’t have air conditioning at home or you know of a relative or neighbor who doesn’t have AC, Dr. Yates said using fans to blow hot air around the house is not a good idea unless you take an extra step.

“Blowing hot air actually can worsen the tendency to heat up,” he said. “So, if you don’t have air conditioning you should put on loose fitting clothes, preferably cotton, and actually physically wet the clothes with water. Then get in front of the fan and that will have an air conditioning type effect.”

Yates said the signs that you are getting overheated include, headache, nausea, confusion, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat and dizziness and a decrease in sweating.

He says if you experience those symptoms or see them in someone else take immediate action.

“And when you see that progression in anyone the most important thing is to get them out of the heat, get some fluids going, put some wet clothes on them and get some air moving over them. If they don’t perk up quickly, the best thing to do is to get them to the emergency room,” Yates said.

Yates said there, doctors use cooling blankets and IV fluids to cool a person down.