Hot Weather Health Tips to Prevent Heat-Related Illness

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By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

August oftentimes brings the hottest weather of summer—which makes now a good time to brush up on some hot weather health tips to help prevent and treat heat-related illness.

“Heatstroke is a condition caused by your body overheating, usually as a result of prolonged exposure to or physical exertion in high temperatures,” according to the Mayo Clinic website. “This most serious form of heat injury, heatstroke, can occur if your body temperature rises to 104 F or higher. The condition is most common in the summer months.”

The signs of heatstroke to watch out for include: high body temperature, altered mental state or behavior, alteration in sweating, nausea and vomiting, flushed skin, rapid breathing, racing heart rate, and headache, according to Mayo Clinic.

“If you think a person may be experiencing heatstroke, seek immediate medical help,” Mayo Clinic reported on its website. “Call 911 or your local emergency services number. Take immediate action to cool the overheated person while waiting for emergency treatment.”

Mayo Clinic recommended taking the person into the shade or indoors, removing excess clothing, and cooling the person with whatever means possible, whether that’s a cool tub of water or a cool shower, spraying them with a garden hose, or placing ice packs or cold, wet towels on the person.

Though anyone can develop heatstroke, certain factors increase a person’s risk, including age, exertion in hot weather, sudden exposure to hot weather, a lack of air conditioning or certain medications, according to Mayo Clinic.

When it comes to the senior population, Dr. Damon Raskin, a board-certified practitioner of internal medicine, suggested staying inside in a cooler place during the hot days. If a senior does go outside, it’s important to make sure they drink plenty of fluids—whether that’s water or an electrolyte solution, like Gatorade or Pedialyte. He also suggested wearing lighter clothing.

On a hot day, Raskin said that seniors can consider going to the movies in the cool air conditioning or, if they are looking to exercise, visit a mall to walk indoors without getting excessively hot.

He emphasized the importance of being able to distinguish between heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

“It’s sort of a continuum where heat exhaustion happens before heatstroke,” Raskin explained. “Heatstroke is a true emergency where you have to call 911, heat exhaustion can be reversed.”

Symptoms of heat exhaustion are similar to those of heatstroke, but may appear a little less extreme, like headaches, light headedness and muscle cramps. At this point, the person may be sweating, but if a situation progresses to heatstroke, they often stop sweating as their body starts to turn off.

When it comes to children, Dr. Bernard Katz, who practices with UCLA Health’s Pacific Palisades Family Medicine office, said that keeping kids protected from the sun and well hydrated helps avoid heatstroke.

“Reminding kids to drink fluids frequently is very helpful,” Katz added. “Ideally the fluids should help replace the salt lost through sweating, so electrolyte drinks and sports drinks are beneficial. Drinks such as carbonated sodas, drinks with caffeine … should be avoided.”

When it comes to signs to watch out for, Katz said that children may appear confused, fatigued or lethargic.

“They may complain of abdominal pain or muscle cramps,” he explained. “They may also appear flushed. In extreme cases they may not produce sweat when sweating would be expected.”

When these signs and symptoms occur, Katz expressed it is important that the child is removed from the heat and sun, placed in a cool area where they can sit calmly, and be given cool fluids to drink—especially electrolyte solutions and sports drinks.

“When a child appears confused, disoriented or becomes unresponsive then it is urgent to seek medical care,” Katz shared. “Sometimes children suffering heatstroke need to be provided with intravenous hydration.”

Katz explained that children are often more active and less likely to sit sill, which can make it harder for them to cool off and remain in the shade. They also do not always have the same thirst drive, he said, which may cause them to need to be reminded to drink fluids when exercising or exposed to hot weather.