Summertime Heat Injury

Summer is here, and along with the beautiful sunshine and hot temperatures comes an increased risk of heat related illness. It is important to make sure you’re protecting your body while you get outside to enjoy that west coast sunshine! Using sunscreen, covering your body with long clothing and hats, eye protection, and staying in the shade can all reduce the risk of sunburn, but what about other temperature-related issues?

Heat Exhaustion is how your body responds to excessive loss of fluid and salt, often due to sweating in high heat environments. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headache, nausea, dizziness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, weakness, higher body temperature and reduced need to pee. It is important to note that heat exhaustion does not require that you are in direct sunlight, so even if you’ve taken care to sit in the shade and drink water, you may still be impacted by the higher ambient temperature and loss of electrolytes through sweating. Children and older adults have more difficulty regulating their bodies and are more susceptible to heat exhaustion. Older adults also have a lower drive for thirst so it is imperative to encourage water consumption. The first things to do if you suspect that someone may be suffering are to get them into a cooler area, encourage drinking liquids, and help them cool down through removal of unnecessary layers of blankets, clothing, placing hands, feet and head into cold water and cooling by getting the whole body in a bath or shower. If symptoms continue, seeking medical care is essential so that their symptoms do not worsen or progress to heat stroke. 

Heat stroke is a more severe condition associated with higher temperature. Those experiencing heat stroke may present as confused, slurring words, and altered mental state. They may have either hot dry skin or excessive sweating, along with a very high body temperature. As heat stroke worsens people may have seizures, lose consciousness, and if treatment is delayed the condition can be fatal. It is essential to seek emergency medical care if you believe that you or someone around you may have heat stroke. As with heat exhaustion, children and older adults are at higher risk due to decreased ability to regulate their body temperature. Once you have called emergency services, you can use cold wet cloths on the person's body, especially on the hands and feet and head to help cool them down faster. You can offer liquids if they are in a state to shallow safely and try to ensure they are in a cooler environment with good air flow where possible. 

Although this information is focused on our human friends, these same risks and symptoms can be present in our four legged companions. As temperatures warm up, making sure that your pets also have access to water, shade, and cool environments is essential for their wellbeing through the summer months. And here I’ll insert the annual reminder not to leave your pets in the car unless it’s climate controlled.

The bottom line is seeking medical intervention if you suspect that anyone around you is suffering from a heat related illness is essential and make sure to call and check in with your older loved ones daily during the hot Summer days. Remind them to fill a glass of water, turn their fans on, close their blinds and windows during the day and open the windows once the outdoor temperature is cooler than the indoor temperature. Stay safe and have a wonderful time protected from the sunshine!