Severe Weather Awareness Week Friday: Extreme Heat

(KNSI) — Believe it or not, warmer weather is on the way, and just like Minnesota can get extremely cold, today’s theme for Severe Weather Awareness Week is extreme heat.

Children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses are especially vulnerable to heat exposure. During sweltering and humid weather, your body loses its ability to cool itself. Heat-related illnesses happen when the body heats too quickly to cool itself properly or when too much fluid or salt is lost through dehydration or sweating.

Heat cramps can be the first sign something is wrong. Heat cramps are indicated by heavy sweating and painful muscle cramps or spasms, mainly in the legs or abdomen. Gently massaging or applying firm, direct pressure on the cramping muscles can give some relief. Unless there is also a feeling of nausea, slowly sipping – not gulping – cold water can also help.

A more severe form of heat-related illness is heat exhaustion. That is indicated by heavy sweating, weakness, tiredness, cool, clammy, pale skin with a fast, weak pulse, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting. Severe headaches and fainting can also occur.

When someone is suffering from heat exhaustion, they should be moved into an air-conditioned room with their clothing loosened and cool, wet cloths applied to their neck, wrists, and under their armpits, or put the person in a cool bath and offer them sips of cold water.

Heatstroke is the most severe form of heat-related illness. Symptoms include throbbing headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, and a body temperature of over 103 degrees. Hot, dry, or damp skin and a strong, fast pulse, and fainting are also signs.

When someone is suffering from heatstroke, health experts say to call 911 or get them to a hospital right away. Getting the person into an air-conditioned room, cold cloths, or a cool bath can help lower body temp. Delay in care can be fatal. In 2001, Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Korey Stringer died from heat stroke-related complications during summer training camp in Mankato.

For more on heat-related illnesses and treatment, click here.

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