NORMAN — Summer has arrived and temperatures are heating up.
That means people need to take extra precautions to prevent heat illness or dehydration. Within the past week, EMSStat paramedics have responded to at least one or two heat related illness calls, paramedics said.
Eddie Sims, EMSStat manager and chief, said people should drink plenty of fluids if they spend time outdoors. That helps prevent dehydration.
“If you’re thirsty, you’ve waited too long to get something to drink,” Sims said. “Drink more than you think you need if you’re going to be outside.”
Sims said anyone who will be in the heat should drink water every hour. Doing that will keep thirst away. Avoid caffeine and alcoholic beverages.
“The more you’re outside, be very aware you don’t head toward dehydration and exhaustion,” he said.
Sims said the temperature may read in the high 90s, but a person walking on concrete is having to deal with a temperature that is 20 or 30 degrees higher.
Muscle cramps and dizziness could be signs the body is in trouble, he said. Once a person develops heat exhaustion, the body’s cooling system goes into overdrive.
“If that doesn’t get corrected, your body’s cooling system will shut down and you can get heat stroke,” Sims said. “Your body temperature goes up and you quit sweating.”
Sims said when someone suffers a heat stroke, their body temperature can pass 105 degrees. Seizures can accompany heat strokes. The illness can lead to coma and death.
“Anytime you start having symptoms of a heat stroke, call 911. That’s truly a life and death emergency,” Sims said.
He said anytime someone becomes ill with a heat-related illness, needs to get out of the heat.
“If you haven’t began feeling better in 30 minutes, seek medical treatment,” Sims said.
Michelle Haswell, owner of Green Acres Lawncare, said she and employees try and stay hydrated to avoid heat exhaustion.
“We drink lots of Gatorade,” she said.
Haswell said she and workers drink water and wear sunscreen. Employees also use hats when out in the sun and hot temperatures.
“If they show any signs of heat exhaustion we quit for the day and make sure they’re not drinking soft drinks,” Haswell said.
She said another step they’ve taken to prevent heat illnesses is to work earlier in the day.
“The hot part of the day like right now is usually when we take a break or try to end for the day,” Haswell said.
Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com
