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HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS - WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
- Heat Wave: More than 48
hours of high heat (90oF or higher) and high humidity (80
percent relative humidity or higher) are expected.
- Heat Index: A number in
degrees Fahrenheit that tells how hot it really feels with the heat
and humidity. Exposure to full sunshine can increase the heat index
by 15o F.
- Heat cramps: Heat cramps
are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. They usually
involve the abdominal muscles or the legs. It is generally thought
that the loss of water and salt from heavy sweating causes the
cramps.
- Heat Exhaustion: Heat
exhaustion is less dangerous than heat stroke. It typically occurs
when people exercise heavily or work in a warm, humid place where
body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Fluid loss causes blood
flow to decrease in the vital organs, resulting in a form of shock.
With heat exhaustion, sweat does not evaporate as it should,
possibly because of high humidity or too many layers of clothing. As
a result, the body is not cooled properly. Signals include cool,
moist, pale, flushed or red skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea
or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be
near normal.
- Heat Stroke: Also known as
sunstroke, heat stroke is life-threatening. The victim's temperature
control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops
working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and
death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Signals include
hot, red and dry skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse;
and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very
high--sometimes as high as 105oF.
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