St. Louis, MO (July, 2007) - United Way of Greater St. Louis wants to remind you to take care during heat advisories, warnings and emergencies. For information on what to do during heat waves or find a cooling site, call 1-800-427-4626. For senior citizens worried about not being able to pay for air-conditioning, electric bill assistance information is available by calling United Way toll free: 1-800-427-4626.
Below are tips, compiled by Operation Weather Survival (OWS) to help keep you - especially senior citizens - cool during heat waves. OWS is a coalition of local government, for-profit and non-profit organizations. United Way handles the administration and call center for OWS.
Stay cool - Stay out of the direct sun and heat. Spend as many hours as possible in a cool place. Minimize physical activity. Take cool baths or showers; use cool towels. Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose fitting clothing.
Drink plenty of water/natural juices - Cool drinks help to replenish fluid losses due to increased perspiration in high temperature. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of fluids every day. Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they cause your body to lose more water. Keep a few bottles of water in your freezer - if the power goes out, move them to your refrigerator and keep the doors shut.
Eat regularly - Prepare easy, cool, light items. Fresh vegetable salads, tuna and meat salads, fresh fruit mixtures, whole grain products and cheeses can all contribute to cool nutritious summer meals. Hot soups and casseroles and other products served hot can make you warmer at meal-time. Avoid using cooking ovens. Avoid using salt tablets - unless directed to do so by a physician.
Develop a buddy system with family, friends, or neighbors - Develop a personal support network of people who will check in with you at least twice a day throughout warm weather periods, and plan how you will help each other in an emergency. Watch for signs of heat stroke and/or heat exhaustion. Call for help when needed.
Plan Ahead - Ask your doctor about any prescription medicine you keep refrigerated (most medicine will be fine to leave in a closed refrigerator for at least 3 hours). Make plans for any animals and pets. Keep a battery-operated radio on hand to hear news reports and a flashlight handy for lighting. Remember extra batteries. Do not use candles due to fire hazards. Cordless phones may not operate during power outages so keep a corded phone handy or plugged in to another jack.
Keep Cool - Close your curtains and windows in the morning to keep the sun and heat out of your home. Open windows and doors at night to cool inside temperatures. Keep electric lights off or turned down. If you don't have air conditioning leave your home and go to a cool safe place, senior centers, shopping malls, etc. are options.
Call 911 if you or anyone you know needs medical attention.
What Heat Related Terms Mean:
Heat wave - a period of excessive heat and humidity. The National Weather Service steps up its procedures to alert the public during these periods of excessive heat and humidity.
Heat Index - the number in degrees Fahrenheit that tells how hot it really feels when relative humidity is added to the actual temperature. Exposure to full sunshine can increase the heat index by 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Heat cramps - muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. They usually involve the abdominal muscles or legs. It is generally thought that the loss of water from heavy sweating causes the cramps.
Heat exhaustion - typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a warm, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If not rested, the victim𠏋 condition will worsen. Body temperature will keep rising and the victim may suffer heat stroke.
Heat (or sun) stroke - life-threatening. The victim𠏋 temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.
Signals of Heat Emergencies:
Heat exhaustion - causes cool, moist, pale or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal.
Heat stroke - causes hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high - sometimes as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry.
Treatment of Heat Emergencies:
Heat cramps - get the person to a cooler place and have them rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids. Give a half a glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they make conditions worse.
Heat exhaustion - get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine. Let the victim rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in their condition.
Heat stroke - is a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call 911 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse the victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water, is vomiting, or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.
The following concerns are often expressed by the elderly. Some solutions are suggested for each concern.
Concern - I can't afford the high electrical bills.
Solution - Ask for help. Pride is no reason to succumb to heat-related illnesses. Funding is sometimes available to help with cooling bills for low-income households.
Concern - The utility companies told us to stop using air conditioning because of the danger of a power outage.
Solution - The elderly, young children and those who are sick or overweight are susceptible to the heat and should not turn off their air conditioning. As little as a few hours a day in an air-conditioned room significantly cuts down on the number of heat-related illnesses, according to the Red Cross.
Concern - Having an electric fan turned on continuously could cause my house to catch on fire.
Solution - A properly working fan in good condition is less likely to cause a fire than is careless cigarette smoking. For safety, use a fan that is "UL" rated, has a good cord which is not frayed, and has no dust on the motor. Don't use an extension cord with the fan and don't overload the electrical outlets. If the fan gets too hot, turn it off in the cooler early morning or late evening for awhile. Also, it's important to have a working smoke detector in the house. Make sure it has good batteries and change them twice per year.
Concern - I close all my doors and windows because I'm afraid of being robbed.
Solution - Fear of crime is normal, but if you don't have air conditioning and with all the doors and windows shut, the chance of having heat-related illness is far greater than being a victim of crime. Perhaps a solution can be to open an attic window during the day to let in fresh air. Or, you can purchase or have window stops made which allow your windows to be open wide enough to let in fresh air but not wide enough for someone to break into your home.
Concern - I checked on a family member and, although she said she was all right, I'm still worried about her health.
Solution - Know the signs of heat-related illness even if someone says they are all right. The signs are cool, moist, pale or flushed skin or hot, red skin. Heavy sweating, headaches, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, and fatigue are signs. Also, a rapid, weak pulse and rapid, shallow breathing can be signs of distress.
Concern - What should I do if the heat overcomes someone?
Solution - Call 911 if you or anyone you know needs medical attention. If it's not a life-threatening situation, get the person to a cooler place and have them rest in a comfortable position. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets and slowly give them cool water to drink. Immerse the victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body. Watch for signals of breathing problems. If the victim refuses water, is vomiting, or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give them anything to eat or drink and call 911.
About United Way of Greater St. Louis
The United Way funds nearly 200 health and human service agencies located throughout a 16-county area in Missouri and Illinois. More than one million people in our bi-state community receive services that strengthen families, help the elderly, keep children healthy and safe, and build stronger neighborhoods. For more information, contact 314-421-0700 or visit www.stl.unitedway.org. |
