Media Contact: Sandra Van or Roberta Nichols Ph. 1-800-396-1002 [email protected]
RELEASE DATE: August 22, 1998
KEEPING YOUR COOL CAN HELP YOU BEAT THE HEAT Practical Tips for Recognizing, Preventing and Treating Heat Illnesses
LOS ANGELES (August 22, 1998) -- With temperatures heading back into triple digits, it's important to remember that periodic "heat waves" can be more than just uncomfortable. They can result in life-threatening illness -- especially for young children and senior citizens who are particularly vulnerable to extremes in temperature. According to Joel Geiderman, M.D., Co-Chairman of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Emergency Department, heat illnesses occur when the body is unable to effectively regulate body temperature. When this happens, the body is unable to cool itself sufficiently through perspiration and convection, and heat exhaustion or even the much more serious heat stroke can result.
"For the past two years, Cedars-Sinai has sponsored the Los Angeles Marathon, and our emergency department physicians have provided the medical care for participants," says Dr. Geiderman. "It's not unusual for us to see marathon runners who are overheated, dehydrated and with their body fluids out of balance," he says. "Those are the very same symptoms we see here in the emergency department when the weather is extremely hot."
Older people and young children are particularly susceptible to hot weather. Often these individuals cannot easily access drinking water by themselves, or may be unable to open windows or turn on fans or air conditioning to help cool themselves. In addition, certain types of medications -- especially heart and psychiatric prescriptions -- can alter the body's internal thermostat, making it harder to maintain a healthy body temperature. People who have outdoor jobs that require physical activity should also take extra precautions, says Dr. Geiderman. "Drink plenty of fluids, especially drinks like Gatorade that are balanced solutions with salt and electrolytes," he says. "However, do not take salt tablets, as they can irritate your stomach and cause other problems."
TIPS FOR PREVENTING HEAT ILLNESS Preventing heat illness can usually be accomplished by using some common sense and making a conscious effort to increase fluid intake during hot weather, says Dr. Geiderman. The following tips can help you keep your cool and beat the heat this summer:
1. Plan to stay in air conditioned areas during the hottest part of the day. If your home does not have air conditioning, try opening windows and using fans to increase ventilation. Hint: Keeping curtains drawn or blinds closed will help keep out the sun and keep down the temperature. If necessary, consider spending the hottest hours in air conditioned public buildings such as the library, a shopping mall, the supermarket, or -- if you're a senior citizen -- the local senior center.
2. Drink plenty of water and include some thirst-quenching solutions with electrolytes (e.g. Gatorade).
3. If you must be outside when it's very hot, wear a hat.
4. Never, ever leave senior citizens or children (or pets, either) in a vehicle - not even for a moment. Temperatures inside a car can quickly reach 120 degrees or more, and can result in death within just a few minutes.
SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE The symptoms of heat exhaustion include fatigue, headache, sweating, dizziness, feeling faint, nausea, cold or clammy skin, rapid heartbeat and low blood pressure. The victim may or may not have an unusually high temperature; if elevated the temperature will usually be less that 104F degrees(40C).
The symptoms of heat stroke include a very high temperature - usually higher than 106 F degrees (41C), hot dry skin (the body is no longer able to sweat, so cannot cool itself), altered mental status, and in extreme cases, seizures and coma.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU OR SOMEONE NEAR YOU IS OVERCOME BY THE HEAT While prevention is the best "cure" for heat exhaustion, there are some important steps that you should take if you or someone near you is overcome by the heat, says Dr. Geiderman. These steps should be taken quickly, because if exposure continues, heat stroke and even death can occur.
1. Call 9-1-1. Heat exhaustion can quickly progress to heat stroke which can result in serious organ damage or even death.
2. Quickly move the victim into an air conditioned area. If such an area is unavailable, move him or her into the shade or place them in front of a fan. Even fanning by hand can help.
3. Elevate the victim's legs, especially if they complain of dizziness, and offer small sips of a cool drink. If available, a "thirst quencher" such as Gatorade or Pedialyte is a good idea, because it replaces electrolytes the body has lost.
4. Sponge the victim with cool, not cold, water. This will help lower his or her temperature more quickly.
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To arrange an interview with Dr. Geiderman, please call 1-800-396-1002.
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