How to Beat the Heat
*Wear lightweight, light-colored, protective clothing.
*Drink lots of fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty.
*Stay in the shade.
*Avoid outdoor activities during the hottest times of the day. Stop and cool off immediately if you or your child is dizzy, light-headed, weak, overheated or sweating profusely.
*Use sunscreen. Apply an SPF 15 or greater before going outside even on cloudy days and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
*Take breaks to cool off if you're working or playing outdoors.
*Keep bugs at bay. If you're spending time in tall grasses or woody areas, use insect repellent with DEET to ward off mosquitoes and ticks.(However, insect repellent should not be used on babies, and repellent used on children should contain no more than 10 percent DEET.)
*Know how to treat bites and stings. If your child is stung by an insect, scrape out the stinger while it is still in the skin. Do not use tweezers. Wash the area and apply an ice pack to ease swelling. Over-the-counter antihistamines, such as Benadryl or Claritin, can bring itch relief. Call 911 if your child is stung in the mouth or experiences signs of an allergic reaction (itching and hives, trouble breathing, tightness in the throat, swelling of the face, weakness or nausea).
*Avoid food-borne illnesses by keeping food cold and out of the heat. When you are packing food for a picnic, place cold food in a cooler with plenty of ice or commercial freezing gel packs. Warning Signs: How to Detect Heat Stress Heat stress occurs when the body builds up more heat than it can release. Here are the characteristics of the most dangerous types of heat stress: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat Cramps: Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms that occur during strenuous activity in humid weather. They are usually caused by failure to replace fluids and salt lost during heavy sweating.
Heat Exhaustion: This illness is marked by fatigue, a high body temperature, clammy skin, profuse sweating, dizziness, nausea and fainting.
Heat Stroke: The most serious heat-related condition, heat stroke can result in coma or even death. It is characterized by a body temperature of 104 degrees or more, shallow breathing, rapid pulse, flushed skin, lack of sweating, confusion, unconsciousness and, sometimes, seizures.
If you or a loved one has symptoms that have progressed past heat cramps or heat exhaustion, seek immediate medical attention!
*Drink lots of fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty.
*Stay in the shade.
*Avoid outdoor activities during the hottest times of the day. Stop and cool off immediately if you or your child is dizzy, light-headed, weak, overheated or sweating profusely.
*Use sunscreen. Apply an SPF 15 or greater before going outside even on cloudy days and reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
*Take breaks to cool off if you're working or playing outdoors.
*Keep bugs at bay. If you're spending time in tall grasses or woody areas, use insect repellent with DEET to ward off mosquitoes and ticks.(However, insect repellent should not be used on babies, and repellent used on children should contain no more than 10 percent DEET.)
*Know how to treat bites and stings. If your child is stung by an insect, scrape out the stinger while it is still in the skin. Do not use tweezers. Wash the area and apply an ice pack to ease swelling. Over-the-counter antihistamines, such as Benadryl or Claritin, can bring itch relief. Call 911 if your child is stung in the mouth or experiences signs of an allergic reaction (itching and hives, trouble breathing, tightness in the throat, swelling of the face, weakness or nausea).
*Avoid food-borne illnesses by keeping food cold and out of the heat. When you are packing food for a picnic, place cold food in a cooler with plenty of ice or commercial freezing gel packs. Warning Signs: How to Detect Heat Stress Heat stress occurs when the body builds up more heat than it can release. Here are the characteristics of the most dangerous types of heat stress: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat Cramps: Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms that occur during strenuous activity in humid weather. They are usually caused by failure to replace fluids and salt lost during heavy sweating.
Heat Exhaustion: This illness is marked by fatigue, a high body temperature, clammy skin, profuse sweating, dizziness, nausea and fainting.
Heat Stroke: The most serious heat-related condition, heat stroke can result in coma or even death. It is characterized by a body temperature of 104 degrees or more, shallow breathing, rapid pulse, flushed skin, lack of sweating, confusion, unconsciousness and, sometimes, seizures.
If you or a loved one has symptoms that have progressed past heat cramps or heat exhaustion, seek immediate medical attention!
