Summer can bring hot temperatures, and working or playing in the heat can be dangerous. As you head out this summer, remember to take precautionary measures to prevent heat-related injuries when you’re far from climate-controlled environments.
Sometimes when people are having fun outside in the summer, they don’t realize they’re becoming overheated. If the condition reaches the level of heatstroke, it’s serious and immediate medical attention is needed.
Heat exhaustion often precedes heatstroke. The signs of heat exhaustion include cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat, heavy sweating, faintness, dizziness, fatigue, rapid pulse, headache and nausea. Without prompt treatment, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition. Heatstroke occurs when the body reaches a temperature of 104 degrees or higher, and symptoms can include confusion, altered speech, nausea or vomiting, rapid breathing and a racing heartbeat, among other symptoms.
Preventative Strategies
- Stay hydrated
- Encourage fluids before, during, and after outdoor activities, regardless of activity level
- Enforce frequent drink breaks, preferably in the shade
- Put ice cubes in your drink
- Sneak in fluids by offering foods that have a high liquid content such as fresh fruit, popsicles, jello, yogurt, and fruit sauces
- Note: if the individual has a difficult time accepting fluids, speak to their health professional or occupational therapist for strategies on increasing water intake
- Use appropriately rated sunscreen
- Apply sunblock 30-minutes prior to going outside, then reapply according to the label directions – even if it is an all-day, waterproof formula
- If a person’s skin is pink and warm and doesn’t return to its normal colour and temperature with rest and cooling, then he or she is sunburned
- Take frequent cooling breaks
- Limit outdoor activities between 10 am and 4 pm, when the sun is at its most intense
- Remember: playing in the water is not the same as drinking water
- Water reflects UV rays, even on cloudy days; as a result, sunburn happens more quickly in and near the water
- Wet clothes are less effective than dry clothes at blocking UV rays
- Cool down indoors
- Use air conditioning and/or fans if possible
- If you don’t have air conditioning, open the windows when the temperature is cooler outdoors than indoors (in the night); close the windows when the temperature is warmer outside than inside
- Close the blinds during the day, or better yet, black out your windows with a dark sheet or blanket
- Cool yourself with cold or room temperature water: spritz yourself, wipe down with a cool cloth, douse your head in cold water, or take a cold shower
- Tips for sleeping in the heat
- Use a breathable cotton sheet
- Set up a fan near your bed
- Spray your sheet with cold water
- Store your pillowcase or sheet in the freezer during the day (inside a plastic bag)
- Take a cold shower or bath immediately before getting into bed
- Drink water before bed, and during the night
- Understand the individual’s medications and treatments
- A medication can contribute to dehydration if:
- It increases metabolism
- It decreases appetite or upsets the stomach
- It increases urination (a diuretic)
- A medication can contribute to overheating if:
- It decreases sweating
- It increases metabolism
- A medication can contribute to dehydration if:
Sometimes, despite our best attempts at prevention, we cannot escape the heat, which can lead to either heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Below are the signs and symptoms to watch for.
Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion:
- Heavy sweating or moist and cool skin
- Paleness
- Heat cramps
- Tiredness or weakness
- Headache/dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fast, weak pulse
- Fainting
- Rapid, shallow breathing
Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stroke:
- High body temperature (103F or higher)
- Hot, red, dry, or damp skin
- Fast, strong pulse
- Headache/dizziness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Loss of coordination
- Fainting
If you suspect your loved one is experiencing either heat exhaustion or heat stroke, prompt action is required. Below are recommendations for cooling down as quickly as possible.
Treatments for Overheating:
- Sip water
- Move to a shady, cooler location
- Loosen clothing
- Spray body with cold water, take a cool bath, put cool, wet cloths on body, or rub ice on body
- Seek medical assistance if the individual doesn’t cool down quickly, if there is vomiting, or if symptoms persist for more than an hour
Extreme heat is here to stay, unfortunately. As a uniquely vulnerable population, it is essential that people with Down syndrome and other disabilities be included in the development of climate change policies and emergency planning. While we work towards big picture solutions, we must take steps at the individual level to ensure that our loved ones are safe. Stay cool!
