US heat wave: What does extreme heat do to our bodies and how can we protect ourselves?
NWS meteorologists are warning that extremely dangerous heat will continue and expand to large portions of the US that has already caused fatalities.
The dog days of summer are here and with it at times unbearable hot weather. This year is shaping up to be the hottest on record, yet again. “Extremely dangerous heat” is already affecting large swaths of the United States from coast to coast.
The West has been seeing record temperatures which are expected to continue to stay elevated and areas experiencing hazardous heat are forecast to expand in the central and eastern US according to the National Weather Service. This latest bout of scorching heat is taking a deadly toll, there have been more than two dozen fatalities across the US this past week.
The US government classes extreme heat as “a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees for at least two to three days.” Extreme heat is responsible for the highest number of deaths a year among all weather-related hazards.
People most at risk from this heat are older adults, children, the sick, and the overweight.
What does the heat do to our bodies?
Our bodies need to be kept at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. With temperatures exceeding this, our bodies need to work harder to maintain this temperature. There are multiple illnesses that are associated with extreme heat.
The most common is heat stroke. This can be measured by a temperature reading greater than 98.6. Symptoms include dizziness and a lack of sweat, despite red skin. It is recommended to take the person to hospital. Two other associated illnesses are heat cramps and exhaustion, which can ultimately prove fatal.
What you can do to keep cool
The ready.gov website has a list of recommendations that you can apply to keep cool this season:
- Never leave people or pets in a closed car on a warm day.
- If air conditioning is not available in your home go to a cooling center.
- Take cool showers or baths.
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.
- Use your oven less to help reduce the temperature in your home.
- If you’re outside, find shade. Wear a hat wide enough to protect your face.
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
- Avoid high-energy activities or work outdoors, during midday heat, if possible.
- Check on family members, seniors and neighbors.
- Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- Consider pet safety. If they are outside, make sure they have plenty of cool water and access to comfortable shade. Asphalt and dark pavement can be very hot to your pet’s feet.
Fans are not recommended for cooling as it is the airflow which makes you feel cooler rather than a real reduction in temperature.