Reduce Risks from Heat 7/23/03

MANHATTAN, Kan. – In the United States, from 1979-1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports more than 8,000 deaths from excessive exposure to heat.

Heat-related deaths are most likely to occur in the summer, and, according to Mike Bradshaw,
K-State Research and Extension health and safety specialist, many people die unnecessarily.

Excessive heat can be particularly difficult for children, whose small stature limits their ability to fight the heat and subsequent dehydration, he said.

Heat, Sun and Medications
May Not Mix

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Re-reading advisories enclosed with medications during warm weather months is a good idea, said Mike Bradshaw, K-State Research and Extension health and safety specialist.

Heat and exposure to sunlight may influence the effectiveness of the medication and/or cause undesirable side effects.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the risk for heat-related illness and death may increase among people using the following drugs: (1) psychotropics, which affect psychic function, behavior, or experience (e.g. haloperidol or chlorpromazine); (2) medications for Parkinson’s disease, because they can inhibit perspiration; and (3) tranquilizers such as phenothiazines, butyrophenones, and thiozanthenes.

The elderly, whose ability to regulate heat typically diminishes with age, can have a greater risk, as can others who are managing a chronic disease, such as heart disease or lung disease. People who are suffering from mental illness also have a greater risk.

Anyone can be vulnerable. Healthy people can succumb after exercising on a hot day. That’s why it’s important for people to learn to recognize the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, Bradshaw said.

With heat exhaustion, a person may feel clammy, sweat profusely, and/or feel weak, dizzy or nauseated. Body temperature may remain close to normal.

If heat exhaustion is suspected, assist the person by loosening clothing; encourage fluid consumption – particularly water; lay him or her down and elevate feet slightly, and apply cool, wet cloths to the forehead. Fan the person or move him or her to an air-conditioned facility or room cooled with a fan. If vomiting occurs, do not force fluids. Seek medical treatment immediately, Bradshaw said.

With heat stroke, a person may feel dizzy, weak or confused. Skin will feel dry rather than sweaty, and body temperature can rise to 105 F or higher. If heat stroke is suspected, seek medical treatment immediately. While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, shade the person from direct sun. Loosen clothing and cool with water to lower body temperature. Avoid stimulants, such as coffee, tea or colas with caffeine, Bradshaw said.

* Make it a habit to check weather reports and forecasts and heed recommendations.

Employers who recognize the dangers of working outside in heat and humidity re-schedule work hours to take advantage of cooler temperatures in early morning and evening. Farmers and ranchers also often shift work hours to reduce their risks. That’s why we sometimes see farmers doing field work in the evenings or road crews working at night, he said.

Follow their example and reduce outside activities during times of high heat and humidity to lessen the risk of heat exhaustion and subsequent dehydration, Bradshaw said.

* Drink six to eight 8-oz. glasses of water each day. While that’s a basic recommendation for health, the need to increase fluid replacement increases in warm weather and at times of heightened activity. Health professionals also recommend drinking water before and after physical activity, and taking frequent breaks to replenish fluids, said Sandy Procter, who is a K-State Research and Extension nutrition specialist and also a registered dietitian.

Sports drinks, which are formulated to replace lost electrolytes (sodium, chloride, and potassium) needed for an athlete’s recovery, can be helpful during prolonged activity of 45 minutes or more, she said.

Water is preferred as a ‘replacement’ fluid; it is naturally occurring and easily absorbed, Procter said

* Wear light-colored clothing that will reflect the heat and a hat. Clothing made of natural fibers (such as cotton) tend to wick – or carry – moisture away from the body, while tight-fitting clothes made from synthetic fibers can trap moisture and exacerbate the heat.

* Seek a cool environment. Air-conditioning can go a long way in providing summer comfort and safety. If a house or apartment is not air-conditioned, fans can be helpful, but may not cool sufficiently in extreme heat. If that is the case, spending time in a community center or public building such as a library during the hottest part of the day can provide some relief from the heat, Bradshaw said.

People without air conditioning – and also those who live alone – are advised to ask friends and neighbors to check on them periodically, he said.

For more information on health and safety, interested persons can contact the local K-State Research and Extension office or visit the K-State Research and Extension Web site at: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu and click on Health and Nutrition.

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.