Lt. Shanti Hall is a veteran firefighter who now works in the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department's Public Affairs Office. She also writes this column for Neighbors. To reach her, e-mail Lt. Shanti Hall.
I heard on the news the other day that practically the whole nation is experiencing a terrible heat wave.
Upon hearing this, I exploded in a loud and slightly vengeful laugh. Now they all know how we feel here in Miami for all except about six days throughout the year.
But I was silenced by the very serious and startling announcement that dozens of people have died as a result of this heat wave. Not at all a laughing matter.
During a typical year in the United States, heat waves kill more people than all other natural disasters combined. But heat-related illness usually progresses in stages, so if you are aware of the signs and symptoms of each stage, you should be able to prevent the development of a life-threatening situation.
The first stage is heat cramps, which are painful muscle spasms usually in the abdominal area, the legs or specific muscle groups being used during activity. The body overheats and the loss of water and salt from heavy sweating causes the cramps.
Heat cramps should be taken as a warning. Move indoors or to a shaded area and drink plenty of cool fluids. Gently stretch and massage the affected muscles. If steps aren't taken to cool down and hydrate, the body will soon move into the next stage of heat-related illness, heat exhaustion.
It is not always preceded by heat cramps, but almost always occurs during heavy activity in extremely hot and humid conditions.
Profuse sweating causes further dehydration, but the sweat does not evaporate from the skin as it should (usually due to high humidity) and the body loses the ability to cool itself.
Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
Heavy sweating or sometimes just moist, pale or red skin.
Headache, dizziness, lightheadedness.
Extreme thirst.
Nausea.
Act immediately. If ignored, heat exhaustion can advance quickly into a life-threatening situation.
Move indoors or to a shaded area. Drink plenty of cool water or a sport drink with electrolytes.
Apply a wet cloth to skin or spray with cool (not cold) water from a spray bottle or even a garden hose. If feeling faint or dizzy, lie back and elevate legs six to eight inches.
Heat exhaustion can easily progress to the most serious heat-related illness, heatstroke. Heatstroke is a severe, life-threatening emergency.
It is a complete breakdown of the body's temperature control system. Sweating ceases, body temperature rises and vital organs begin to shut down. If immediate action is not taken, heatstroke will lead to shock, coma, brain damage and even death.
Signs and symptoms of heatstroke include:
Severe headache.
Rapid, weak heartbeat and shallow breathing.
High body temperature (sometimes as high as 105 degrees F.
Cessation of sweating and dry, red, hot skin.
Confusion, fainting or complete loss of consciousness.
Seizures.
Any person showing signs and symptoms of heatstroke should immediately be moved indoors or to a cool, shady place. Call 911 right away and begin to lower the body temperature by covering with wet sheets or spraying with cool water.
Wrap ice or cold packs in a cloth and place in the armpits, neck and groin area. If alert enough, give cool fluids to drink.
Of course, the best treatment of all for heat-related illness is prevention.
Avoid vigorous outdoor activity between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Make sure to drink fluids throughout the day instead of waiting until you're thirsty, and avoid beverages containing caffeine or alcohol.
Wear light-colored, loose clothing.
Instruct children to do the same. Make sure they know how to recognize when they are too hot, even if they're not with you. Teach them that in these cases, they must go indoors right away and drink water.
Elderly persons and young children are at a higher risk for heat-related illness, as well as people taking certain medications such as diuretics.
Extra care is required to prevent an emergency.
For more information, visit www.miamidade.gov/mdfr.
Distributed by the Associated Press
