Cooperative Living June 2016 - 24

SafetySense
Stay cool while having fun in the sun
How to avoid getting overheated; and how to stay cool in the summer sun.
Drink
Cool
Water
include profuse sweating, clammy or pale
skin, dizziness, rapid pulse and normal or
slightly elevated body temperature.
Uncontrolled heat exhaustion can
evolve into heatstroke, so make sure to
treat victims quickly:
* Move them to a shaded or airconditioned
area;
* Give them water or other cool,
nonalcoholic beverages;
* Apply wet towels or have them take a
cool shower.
Y
ou may not realize this, but our
bodies are in an almost constant
struggle to disperse the heat they
produce. Most of the time, we're hardly
aware of this - unless our bodies are
exposed to more heat than each of us
can handle.
According to the National Safety
Council's Injury Facts 2015, a shocking
587 people died in the U.S. from exposure
to excessive heat in 2011 alone. Heatrelated
illnesses can escalate rapidly,
leading to delirium, organ damage and
even death. Those most at risk include
infants and young children, the elderly,
those with heart or circulatory problems or
other long-term illness and people who
work or exercise outdoors - especially
beginners.
There are several heat-related illnesses:
HEATSTROKE, the most severe heatrelated
illness, occurs when the body's
ability to sweat fails and body temperature
rises quickly. The brain and vital organs
are effectively " cooked " as one's core
temperature rises to a dangerous level in a
matter of minutes.
Heatstroke is often fatal, and those who
do survive may have permanent damage to
22 | Cooperative Living | June 2016
HEAT EXHAUSTION can set in
when the body loses an excessive amount
of salt and water. People who work
outdoors and athletes are particularly
susceptible. Symptoms are similar to those
of the flu and can include severe thirst,
fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting and,
sometimes, diarrhea. Other symptoms
their organs. Someone experiencing
heatstroke will have extremely hot skin,
and an altered mental state, ranging from
slight confusion to coma. Seizures also
can result.
Ridding the body of excess heat is
crucial for survival, so if you're with
someone who appears to be at risk, follow
these steps:
* Move the person into a half-sitting
position in the shade;
* Call for emergency medical help
immediately;
* If the humidity level is below 75
percent, spray the victim with water
and fan them vigorously;
* If the humidity is above 75 percent,
apply ice to their neck, armpits or groin;
* Do not give the victim aspirin,
acetaminophen or anything to drink
before trained medical help arrives.
HEAT CRAMPS are muscle spasms
that usually affect the legs or abdominal
muscles, often after physical activity.
Excessive sweating reduces salt levels in
the body, which can result in heat cramps.
Workers or athletes with pain or spasms in
the abdomen, arms or legs should not
return to work for a few hours.
To respond to signs of heat cramps, have
the person:
* Sit or lie down in the shade;
* Drink cool water or a sports drink;
* Carefully stretch affected muscles;
* Seek medical attention if the person has
heart problems or the cramps don't get
better in an hour.
The best way to avoid a heat-related
illness is to limit exposure outdoors during
hot days. Here are some proactive steps
you can take if you plan on being outdoors
on a hot day:
* Drink plenty of water and avoid
alcohol;
* Wear loose, lightweight clothing and
a hat;
* Have a sports drink on hand to replace
salt lost from sweating;
* Avoid spending time outdoors during
the hottest part of the day, from 11 a.m.
to 3 p.m.;
* Wear sunscreen, since sunburn affects
the body's ability to cool itself;
* Pace yourself when you run or
otherwise exert your body. 
Source: The National Safety Council,
www.nsc.org
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Cooperative Living June 2016

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