At least four people have died in a heat wave in Philadelphia this month. Six heat-related deaths were reported in July, when a heat wave hit central and eastern U.S. One of those victims was a 12-year-old child who died of heat stroke while hiking in Arizona.
There were an average of 618 heat-related deaths in the U.S. each year from 1999 to 2010, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Bottom line? Heat kills. You need to know how to stay safe.
Heat, Humidity, and Dehydration
Your body cools itself by sweating, but for that to work sweat must be able to evaporate. When it’s humid sweat cannot evaporate enough for sweating to you to cool you down effectively. This means your core temperature can rise dangerously and you can develop heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
As you sweat, you can become dehydrated which causes you to lose blood volume, making the heart work harder, and potentially leading to heart failure.
In drier conditions, sweat can cool you down effectively by evaporating, but only if you stay hydrated. As you lose water you eventually stop sweating and stop cooling. There again, you face a rising core temperature and dehydration. Even dry temperatures and proper evaporation aren’t enough for many people in intense heat.
Staying Safe
To stay safe in the heat:
- Stay hydrated – you can be dehydrated without feeling thirsty
- Avoid exerting yourself in extreme heat, especially when the nights are hot too
- Know the signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion
Heat stroke can be fatal. It is a medical emergency. Heat exhaustion is a milder heat-related illness, but still requires medical attention.
The elderly and people with certain health conditions are at elevated risk for heat-related injuries. Extreme heat often leads to power outages, making the situation even more dangerous. To learn more, about how to keep your loved ones safe, read Caregivers: Emergency Preparedness.
About Sandra Dalton
