July 2025

I think summer has come in with a bang! Its been a while since we’ve had this hot of temperatures for so long before August. Historically, we have seen average temperatures gradually increase over the past few decades, with above average temperatures spiking in mid to late spring. While this may be a much-welcomed event for those who are still in the winter doldrums, for those people at risk for heat exhaustion, it can mean a challenging beginning to the summer.

You may be wondering, what is heat exhaustion and how is it different from heat stroke? Heat exhaustion is when the body is not able to cool itself under hot conditions. Symptoms are usually dizziness, excessive sweating, headache, nausea, muscle cramps or excessive thirst. The person may also have a fast but weak pulse. Anyone with these symptoms should be moved to a cool environment and given water or sports drinks to hydrate. If they are wearing tight clothing or have extra layers on, these should be removed. Taking a cool shower can help cool down after being outside in the hot weather also.

Heat stroke is more severe and presents with initial symptoms of heat exhaustion but can progress to lack of sweating, hot red skin, confusion or even loss of consciousness. If a person presents with these symptoms, this is a medical emergency and 911 should be called. Moving the person to a cooler place and putting cold compresses in the armpits and groin can help in decreasing the body temperature. Remember if a person is not conscious or not fully awake, do not give them anything by mouth as they may choke.

How can you reduce the risk of heat exhaustion? Remember those who are high risk such as children, elderly, disabled persons or persons who work outdoors should have access to cool environments or the ability to take frequent breaks to cool off. Children, elderly or disabled persons who are not able to remove themselves from harmful conditions should not be left out in the heat or in a car. You cannot count on the car to stay running or the air conditioning to not fail while you are not present.

If you live in a home without air conditioning, move to the lowest level of the home where it is cooler, use fans to help move air around the house and avoid cooking during the hottest hours of the day. You can also spend time at public places with air conditioning or find friends/family that you can stay with until the cooler hours of the day. Make sure to wear lightweight, loose fitting clothes and stay in the shade as much as possible if you have to be outside. Plan outdoor activities during the coolest part of the day and make sure you have plenty to drink with you or access to water to stay hydrated. Wear sunscreen and apply regularly to avoid sunburn. Look for sunscreens that say “broad spectrum” or “UVA/UVB” protection on their label.

Make sure you pay attention to the weather and any heat alerts or UV warnings that are announced. And make sure you don’t forget about your pets! If you’re hot, they are hotter!

For more information related to heat related emergencies, you can follow the link below to the CDC’s webpage on the topic:

https://www.cdc.gov/extreme-heat/prevention/index.html