Beat the Heat

It’s here—the hot, hazy, sometimes unbearable heat that arrives in Pennsylvania every summer. And with it comes the potential for heat stroke, which occurs when excessively high body temperature damages the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and other organs.

Most at risk are elderly persons and infants, those with chronic illnesses like cardiovascular disease, and people on certain medications. Athletes, laborers, and soldiers—persons who overdo physical activity in very hot temperatures—are especially prone to dehydration and heat stroke.

"Heat stroke is not an accident," says Marilyn J. Heine, MD, an emergency physician in Montgomery County and president elect of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. "It’s a condition that generally can be prevented with a little effort and lots of common sense."

Pay attention when humidity rises to 70 percent and temperatures climb to about 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Heat stroke’s symptoms are similar to those mentioned above, but are even more severe—profuse sweating, then hot, dry, red skin; high fever; vomiting; confusion; seizures during cooling; and unconsciousness. The blood pressure may be low or high, and lack of sweating is common, though athletes may perspire. The body temperature often will be 105 degrees or higher.

"After calling 911," Dr. Heine says, "move the victim to a cooler location, remove heavy clothing, fan the body and wet it down with a cool sponge or cloth, and encourage the individual to drink cool fluids."

During oppressively hot weather, keep cool and healthy by doing the following:

• Don’t overexert yourself.
• Drink a quart of fluids an hour.
• Wear loose clothing light in color and fabric, as well as a hat and sunblock, and stay in the shade or indoors if possible.
• Open windows and use fans, or turn on air conditioning.
• If you don’t have air conditioning, go to a public place that does, like a mall, library, or movie theater.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can speed up dehydration.