Red Cross offers heat safety tips
The American Red Cross is urging area residents to keep safety in mind as temperatures soar and offers the following safety tips: never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles, eat small meals, or eat more often and avoid extreme temperature changes.
Also, wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day, use a buddy system when working in excessive heat, take frequent breaks if working outdoors, check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spent much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat. And, check on animals frequently to ensure they are not suffering from the heat. Also ensure the pets have water and a shady place to rest.
Heat can lead to sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To help avoid problems, stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and limit drinks with caffeine and alcohol.
If someone is experiencing heat cramps in the legs or abdomen, get them to a cooler place, have them rest, lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish their fluids with a half a glass (about four ounces) of cool water every 15 minutes.
If a person is exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion – the symptoms being cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, exhaustion – move them to a cooler place, remove or loosen tight clothing and spray the person with water or apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin. Fan the person. If they are conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Watch for changes in condition. If the person refuses water, vomits or begins to lose consciousness, call 911 or the local emergency number.