Temperatures Soar
When temperatures soar so does the likelihood of a number of heat related illnesses. Children and teens adjust to extreme heat more slowly than adults. They produce more body heat and sweat less. They also have a tendency to rest less and drink less fluids. All these things make kids more likely than adults to experience one of the three main heat related illnesses.
HEAT CRAMPS
Heat cramps are the mildest form of heat illness and consist of painful muscle cramps and spasms that occur during or after intense exercise and sweating in high heat.
HEAT EXHAUSTION
Heat exhaustion is most likely to occur when you’re sweating a lot and temperatures are over 100-degrees. The main reason is your body lacks fluids. Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke.
HEAT STROKE
Heat stroke is life-threatening and happens when your body is simply overwhelmed by heat and your organs don’t know how to behave. Heat stroke requires immediate attention.
CRITICAL FIRST AID MEASURES
There are certain things that you should do immediately in all three cases like moving the patient to a cool location, removing excess clothing, applying cool cloths and fanning the skin.
However if the patient has stopped sweating and his/her skin has become warm and dry, if you determine a temperature of over 104 and the victim has a headache then he/she may be suffering from heat stroke. In that case you should also IMMEDIATELY call 911, administer fluids, and apply ice-bags to the armpits and groin.
In July of this year alone there were more than 11 days of temperatures over 100-degree throughout the Sacramento area. To learn more about the symptoms and remedies for heat related illnesses visit the JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE website.