Hot summer weather brings greater risk of heat-related illness, experts say

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR

With temperatures in the 90’s, many of us have been enjoying the summer sunshine at the local lakes and parks, but too much sun and hot weather can be dangerous, and the potential for people who are out in the sun to suffer from heat exhaustion or heat stroke is real.

Just this week, Habersham County EMS crews responded to a call from a woman and her two children who experienced heat-related emergencies on Panther Creek Trail near Turnerville.  The three were located and received treatment and were brought safely out of the woods.

Dr. Morgan Wood is the Chief of Emergency Medicine at St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital. Dr. Wood said with the hot weather comes the risk of becoming overheated.

“Well, it’s very easy to get heat exhaustion. That’s the first step when you get over-heated, Usually, people will have headaches, nausea, profuse sweating, and weakness. That’s the warning sign that if you don’t do something you’re going to proceed to heatstroke,” he explained.

Dr. Wood said one of the most important things that people need to know is if you work outside or you’re going to be outside for a long period of time, you need to acclimate yourself to the heat.

“One of the most important things people need to know is to acclimate yourself to the heat, taking short periods in the heat and then progressing to longer periods as your body allows you to. Or do things either early in the morning or later in the day, like early evenings,” he said.

Both older people 65 and up as well as children need to avoid staying out too long in the summertime heat because those two age groups, according to Wood are more susceptible to becoming overheated.

Wood said if you’re going to be outside for long periods of time make sure you stay hydrated.

“The ones to avoid are alcohol and caffeine, like energy drinks that contain caffeine, iced coffee, coca-cola, things like that. The ones you want to have is drinks like Gatorade, PowerAde are better. If you don’t have those then just plain water will do,” Wood said.

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta recommends staying in air conditioning as much as you can during times of extreme heat and if you don’t have air conditioning at home contact your local health department to help locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area.

Additionally, during this pandemic, the CDC says if you are wearing a cloth face covering and feel yourself overheating or having trouble breathing, put at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and others and remove the face covering.

Signs that you are getting overheated include, headache, nausea, confusion, dry mouth, rapid heartbeat and dizziness and a decrease in sweating.

If you experience those symptoms or see them in someone else take immediate action by getting into air conditioning or shade and using a cold wet cloth on your forehead and back of your neck, and drink plenty of water.

And if there’s no improvement seek medical attention immediately by calling 911.

Dr. Wood also said if you have recovered from heat stroke or heat exhaustion it’s a good idea to not go back out in the heat the next day, but give yourself a couple of days to rest first.