Slow down. Avoid

strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do

it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually

between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.

Stay indoors when

possible.

Hats are needed when in

the sun but when in the shade, take them off, as most

of the body's heat escapes through the head. This is

especially important for children playing youth sports in

the hot sun. For example, baseball players when in the

dugout should be instructed to remove their caps.

Know what these

heat-related terms mean.

Heat wave is more

than 48 hours of high heat (90 degrees or higher) and

high humidity (80 percent relative humidity or higher)

are expected.

Heat index is a

number in degrees Fahrenheit that tells how hot it really

feels with the heat and humidity. Exposure to full

sunshine can increase the heat index by 15 degrees.

Heat cramps are

muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. They

usually involve the abdominal muscles or the legs. It is

generally thought that the loss of water and salt from

heavy sweating causes the cramps.

Heat exhaustion is

less dangerous than heat stroke. It typically occurs when

people exercise heavily or work in a warm, humid place

where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating.

Fluid loss causes blood

flow to decrease in the vital organs, resulting in a form

of shock. With heat exhaustion, sweat does not evaporate

as it should, possibly because of high humidity or too

many layers of clothing. As a result, the body is not

cooled properly. Signals include cool, moist, pale or

flushed skin; heavy sweating; nausea or vomiting;

dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near

normal.

Heat stroke , also

known as sunstroke, is life-threatening. The victim's

temperature control system, which produces sweating to

cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can

rise so high that brain damage and death may result if

the body is not cooled quickly. Signals include hot, red

and dry skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak

pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can

be very high, sometimes as high as 105 degrees.

General care for heat

emergencies

Heat cramps/heat

exhaustion: Get the person to a cooler place and have

him or her rest in a comfortable position. Give a half

glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not let him or

her drink too quickly. Do not give liquids with alcohol

or caffeine in them, as they can make conditions worse.

Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet

cloths such as towels or wet sheets.

Heat stroke: This is

a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call

911 or your local EMS number. Move the person to a cooler

place. Quickly cool the body. Wrap wet sheets around the

body and fan it. If you have ice packs or cold packs,

wrap them in a cloth and place them on each of the

victim's wrists and ankles, in the armpits and on the

neck to cool the large blood vessels. (Do not use rubbing

alcohol because it closes the skin's pores and prevents

heat loss.) Watch for signals of breathing problems and

make sure the airway is clear. Keep the person lying

down.

For more information or to

enroll in a Red Cross first aid and CPR course, contact

the south metro American Red Cross service center at

770-961-2552.