IT CAN GET TOO HOT!!
Extracted and adapted from "Heat Illness Prevention," American College of Sports Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.
(Provided to the BCEA by the 1999 Earthquake Survival Program, Burbank Fire Department and Toyota)

During an average summer, some 200 people across the country die due to heat injuries from exposure to high summer temperatures.

Clearly, heat can be a force, particularly in Southern California, where temperatures exceeding 100 degrees in the suburban valleys and 110 degree in the low desert areas are not uncommon during the summer and fall. This past summer, high temperatures in the desert and mountain areas of Imperial and San Diego counties claimed the lives of at least 29 people.

Heat-wave emergencies can strike very quickly. In 1995, for example, the city of Chicago's medical examiner received reports regarding the first heat-related fatalities at 9 p.m. on a Friday night. By 8 a.m. the following morning, an additional 87 people had died. These deaths were caused directly by the heat. It's uncertain, however, how many more people with heart conditions died sooner because of the heat.

Exposure to sunlight is a mixed blessing. Although sun is necessary for life, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is potentially dangerous and can damage the skin. Varied burns result from prolonged exposure to UV rays, but some people also burn from very little exposure. UV rays can significantly keep the skin from compensating for the excess heat.

Overexposure to heat or excessive exercise in the heat also can cause other injuries. The severity of such injuries increases with age; heat cramps in a younger person may be heat exhaustion in a middle-aged person, but may be heatstroke in an elderly person. This occurs because the person has not adapted to the heat and is unable to adjust to the changes in the body.

HEAT CONDITIONS, SYMPTOMS AND FIRST AID
What you might see in a heat injury

  1. Sunburn is usually a first-degree burn that involves just the outer surface of the skin. Symptoms include redness and pain. Severe cases may cause swelling, blisters, fever to 102 degree or above and headaches
    First Aid: Use ointments, as well as cool baths or compresses, for less severe cases. Don't break the blisters; if blisters do break, use a dry germ-free dressing. In severe cases consult a physician. Drink plenty of water.

  2. Heat cramps often are related to dehydration. Symptoms include increased sweating with painful muscle spasms of arms, legs and occasionally the abdomen.
    First Aid: Remove the victim from the hot environment. Apply pressure on or gently massage the spastic muscles to relieve spasms.

  3. Heat exhaustion is the inability to sweat enough to cool yourself. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting as well as cold, clammy, pale, red or flushed skin. A marked body temperature rise will not occur.
    First Aid: Remove the victim from the heat. Lay the victim down and loosen the clothing. Apply cold compresses and cool the body by fanning the victim or placing the victim in a cool environment. Consult a physician if vomiting continues.

  4. Heatstroke occurs when the body stops sweating but the body temperature continues to rise. Symptoms include visual disturbances, headaches, nausea, vomiting, confusion and, as the condition progresses, delirium or unconsciousness. The skin will be hot, dry, red or flushed even under the armpits. This condition is a severe medical emergency that could be fatal.
    First Aid: Consult a physician immediately or call 911. Remove clothing and place victim in a cool environment, sponge the body with cool water or place the victim in a cool bath. Continue the process until temperature decreases. DO NOT PROVIDE FLUIDS to an unconscious victim.

PREVENTING HEAT INJURIES
What you can do to prevent heat injuries