We've all been dismayed to read about the heat-related deaths in California, where the death toll reached more than 160 people who succumbed to temperatures over 110 degrees. What's behind this calamity?
A recent publication from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there was an average of 688 heat-related deaths in the U.S. over the five-year period ending in 2003.
Although senior citizens are at especially high risk for heart attacks and other potentially fatal health problems during sustained heat waves, surprisingly, 53 percent of these heat-related deaths occurred in people between the ages of 15 and 64.
Forty percent of deaths were in those over the age of 65 and 7 percent were in children less than 15 years of age. Cardiovascular disease was the most common underlying factor contributing to these deaths, the report states. In the age group from 35 to 44, men accounted for three of every four heat-related deaths.
The risks to children and teenagers, who tend to be oblivious to dangers to their health, are evident from recent reports of hospitalizations from an international Boy Scout jamboree in Maryland and deaths each year during high school football practices in August.
It's not surprising that the danger of heart attacks and other health-related problems increase with higher humidity.
Here are tips to help you weather heat waves safely:
- Drink lots of fluids. Don't wait until you feel thirsty. Water is your best choice. Avoid alcohol because it dehydrates the body.
- Avoid excessive sweating. Salt helps the body retain fluids you may lose through excessive sweating. Though sweat contains some salt, it's not necessary or advisable to take salt tablets unless you are working or exercising and sweating profusely. There are dangers associated with retaining too much fluid. A sports drink like Gatorade is a suitable addition to water.
- Stay indoors if possible. Avoid sun exposure and heavy work or exercise during the hottest part of the day, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. If you can't avoid being outdoors, look for a place to sit in the shade.
- If you go outdoors, apply sunscreen. Protect your skin and wear lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting clothing with a wide-brimmed hat.
- Stay cool. If you don't have air conditioning or you lose power, try a cool shower or bath, sprinkle yourself with cold water, or hold your wrists under cold running water for a minute. A fan may bring in cooler air at night, but mostly just pushes the hot air around during the day. Consider a trip to a shopping mall, senior center, one of the cooling centers that have been opened in some cities, or public library to cool off.
- Keep curtains and blinds closed.
- Avoid using appliances that release heat. Use your stove and oven as little as possible to avoid adding more heat to the house.
- Stay in touch with others. Older people should ask their relatives and neighbors to check on them during the heat wave. Friends and neighbors should take it upon themselves to visit elderly neighbors to make sure they are all right.
