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Summer heat can be deadly, keeping body cool important for safety
By Kenny Green, kgreen@starlocalnews.com
During the summer many people head outdoors to enjoy a little fun in the sun. The one thing a lot of people tend to forget until it’s too late are the dangers also involved in prolonged exposure to the sun and the heat that occurs as a result.
“It’s best to try and get out of the hot environment and stay in the shade as much as possible. The temperature can have a 10 to 15 degree difference in the shade,” said Dr. James Mullowney, a general practitioner based in Mesquite. “The lower the temperature is the better.”
Mullowney recommends limiting outdoor activity to the early mornings or late evenings whenever possible.
He also said that when outside in the heat it is important to drink lots of fluids, especially water to replenish the fluids lost from being in the heat.
“If in the sun a lot it is important to drink one of the sports drinks. If a sports drink is not available then they should drink lots of water. I would recommend people to drink eight to 10 cups of water a day if they are going to be in the heat,” Mullowney said.
Prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to heat exhaustion or possibly a heat stroke if proper precautions aren’t taken to cool the body’s temperature. Mullowney said that a person can begin to recognize the onset of heat exhaustion if they become dizzy, have a loss of coordination or start to get a little nauseated.
“Their heart rate will pick up and they will be very thirsty,” Mullowney said. “These are all symptoms of heat exhaustion. It occurs when the body gets so hot it cannot maintain normal operations.”
If you begin to experience any of the symptoms of heat exhaustion it is important to get out of the heat immediately and begin to replace the lost fluids, according to Mullowney.
When heat exhaustion becomes severe it can turn into a heat stroke, which can be life-threatening.
“Heat stroke happens when your core temperature gets to 104 to 105 degrees. When this occurs you will need someone to take you to the emergency room immediately. Getting out of the heat and attempting to rehydrate will not help,” Mullowney said.
Mullowney said people that are going to be outdoors doing activities can take a page out of the book of the UIL-implemented policy which requires high school athletes to take a break every 15 minutes to rehydrate their bodies.
“You can also take advantage of the shade or go inside to cool off. If you do these things your body will handle the heat much better,” Mullowney said.
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