Summer safety: Don't get beat by the heat

  • Published
  • By John Turner
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Sunday is the official start of summer, and Airmen and families are already enjoying pleasant weather suited to outdoor adventures in Montana.

Whether you are planning for a long hike in Yellowstone National Park or a barbecue in the back yard, be prepared for increasingly hot, dry weather and take precautions to stay healthy and safe.

Great Falls typically experiences summer heatwaves that can feel like standing near a blast furnace. According to weatherspark.com, temperatures here rose to 100 degrees on Aug. 12, 2012, and to 97 degrees on July 3 the following year. While these were annual highs, they illustrate the importance of being prepared for extreme heat when working or playing outside.

The 341st Missile Wing Safety Office warns that anyone not accustomed to the heat is at risk for a heat-related illness like heatstroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps. Heat-related illnesses can escalate rapidly, according the National Safety Council, and can result in delirium, organ damage and death. According to NSC statistics, 587 people in the U.S. died from exposure to excessive heat in 2011.

Heatstroke is the most severe heat-related illness, and occurs when the body loses its ability to sweat. The victim's body temperature rises to a dangerous level in a matter of minutes, damaging their brain and vital organs. Someone experiencing heatstroke will have extremely hot skin and an altered mental state ranging from slight confusion to coma. Heatstroke is often fatal, and ridding the victim's body of excess heat is crucial for their survival.

To treat a heatstroke victim, move the person to a half-sitting position in the shade and call for emergency medical help immediately. Do not give the victim anything to drink. Spray the victim with water and fan them vigorously. Do not give them aspirin or acetaminophen.

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses excessive salt and water. Symptoms can include severe thirst, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Other signs include profuse sweating, dizziness, pale or clammy skin, rapid pulse, and normal or slightly elevated body temperature. Treat the victim quickly before heat exhaustion elevates to heatstroke.

Move the victim to shaded or air-conditioned area and give them water or other cool, nonalcoholic beverages. Apply wet towels or have the victim take a cool shower.

Heat cramps are muscle spasms caused by reduced salt and moisture in the body after excessive sweating, and usually affect the victim's abdomen or legs. To treat heat cramps, sit or lie down in the shade and drink cool water or a sports drink. Stretch affected muscles, and seek medical attention if the pain hasn't relieved after an hour, or if you have a heart condition.

Drink plenty of water before you go out into hot weather. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends drinking more liquid than your thirst indicates, regardless of activity level--two to four glasses of cool liquid each hour is advised during heavy exercise.  The 341st MW Safety Office recommends frequent water breaks. Avoid drinks containing alcohol because they actually cause you to lose more fluid.

Wear appropriate clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat to provide shade and keep your head cool. The CDC's guideline for clothing is lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting to allow circulation. Protect exposed skin with a sunscreen having a Sun Protective Factor of at least 15, and apply it 30 minutes before going out and as specified by directions on the package. Sunburns are not only painful, they also cause a loss of body fluids and reduce your body's ability to cool itself.

Finally, don't leave pets or children unattended in a vehicle. The American Veterinary Medical Association warns that hundreds of pets die from heat exhaustion each year because they are left in parked vehicles. The temperature inside your car rises steadily and can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature within an hour. Consider this: if the outside temperature is 70 degrees, in only 20 minutes the inside of the vehicle will be an estimated 99 degrees.

Big Sky Country means plenty of sunshine in the summer months. Enjoy your time outdoors, but be cautious as well. Don't get beat by the heat.