Our body cools itself by sweating. During hot weather, especially when it is very humid, sweating isn't enough to cool off. Body temperature can rise to dangerous levels and can develop a heat illness. Drinking plenty of water, and acclimating ourselves to the heat can help but being smart and understanding the symptoms of heat illness can save lives.
SUNBURN : Painful, red, and warm skin, or blisters on the skin
What to do:
Stay out of the sun.
Put cool cloths on sunburned areas or take a cool bath
Put moisturizing lotion on sunburned areas. Do not break blisters
HEAT RASH: Clusters of small blisters that look like pimples, usually on the neck, chest, groin, or elbow creases
What to do:
Stay in a cool, dry place.
Keep the rash dry and use baby powder to soothe.
HEAT CRAMPS: Muscle pains or spasms that happen during heavy exercise.
Signs:
Heavy sweating during intense exercise, muscle pain or spasms.
What to do:
Stop physical activity and move to a cool place. Drink water or a sports drink and wait for cramps to go away before you do any more physical activity.
Heat Exhaustion: an illness that can happen after several days of exposure to high temperatures and not enough fluids.
Signs
Heavy sweating, cool, clammy skin, fast weak pulse
Nausea or vomiting, cramps, fatigue, dizziness, Headache, Fainting
What to do
Move to a cool place.
Do whatever you can to make yourself cooler-loosen your clothes wet your cloths, take a cool bath.
Sip water
Heat Stroke: A life-threatening illness in which body temperature may rise above 106° F in minutes.
Signs
High body temperature, hot, red, dry, or damp skin, fast, strong pulse
Headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, losing consciousness
What to do
Call 911, Move to a cool place, do anything you can to lower their core temperture
ie. icebath,submerging their body under water.
