Saint Louis County, MO - (June 06, 2011) -Summer may not officially be here for another two weeks, but the St. Louis area is experiencing its first heat wave this season with 17 people treated for heat exhaustion over the weekend, according to the Saint Louis County Department of Health. Five people were admitted to area hospitals and 12 were treated and released.
The health department is strongly urging caution and common sense during periods of extreme heat this summer. The area is under a heat advisory until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday.
"Saint Louis experiences heat waves almost every year and it is important to observe common sense precautions whenever this happens," said Dr. Dolores Gunn, Director of the Health Department.
Whenever temperatures rise above 95 degrees, the Health Department recommends the following:* Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing.* Spend as little time as possible in the sun and keep activity levels to a minimum.* Drink plenty of cool, non-alcoholic beverages, especially those without sugar or caffeine.* Take regular breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned room.* Eat light, easily-digested foods, avoiding hot, heavy, or greasy meals.* Be sure not to leave food unrefrigerated for long - food spoils rapidly in the heat.* Take care of those who might not be aware of the danger or able to react accordingly -especially young children and the elderly. Check on your neighbors and relatives if they may be vulnerable or do not have air conditioning.* Know the signs of heat exhaustion. If someone becomes dizzy, nauseated, or sweats heavily, find a cooler location for him or her immediately.* Know the signs of heat stroke. Heat stroke is much more serious than heat exhaustion. The symptoms are similar to heat exhaustion, but also include hot, flushed skin, and normally sweating stops. If heat stroke is a possibility, call 911 immediately. Heat stroke is life threatening!
If a person is unable to keep his or her residence cool and needs to find a cooling center, that person is urged to call the United Way of Greater Saint Louis by dialing 211 from his or her home landline phone, or by dialing 1-800-427-4626 from any other type of phone. Residents are also urged to consider pets whenever temperatures rise.
Here are some tips for protecting pets during hot weather:* Regularly check a pet's water to make sure it's clean and fresh. Ample drinking water is vital to animals during hot and humid conditions. Make sure to adjust the drinking quantity for the size and number of pets in the area. You can also spray your pet with water to cool them off.* Provide a shady spot for pets. A pen near trees will work or you can fasten a sunroom screen to the sides and top of the pen to provide shade too.* Never leave your pet unattended in a hot vehicle. Internal vehicle temperatures can reach 150 degrees. |
