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Is it hot enough for you? It appears that many parts of the Northern Hemisphere are taking a beating from the Summer sun and heat. News reports tell of hundreds of individuals who have already died because of the high temperatures. We want you to be aware and safe, so this month's featured article provides the information and first aid tips you will need to help someone who is suffering from heatstroke or heat exhaustion.

Heatstroke or Sunstroke

Heatstroke is life-threatening. The victim's 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.

A person who has heatstroke may develop the following symptoms: body temperature is above 102 degrees Fahrenheit; flushed, hot skin; constricted pupils; confusion; rapid pulse; seizures; if the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry; unconsciousness.

Heatstroke can be fatal so help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse 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.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, 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 treated, the victim's condition will worsen. Body temperature will keep rising and the victim may suffer heatstroke. Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are often the first signal that the body is having trouble with the heat.

A person who suffers from heat exhaustion may develop a few or all of these symptoms: cool, clammy skin; excessive perspiration; dilated pupils; rapid pulse; headache; nausea or vomiting; abdominal or limb cramps; dizziness; body temperature may be normal, or is likely to be rising.

For 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. Let the victim rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition.

For heat cramps, get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they can cause further dehydration, making conditions worse.

More Information About Extreme Heat

Heat can kill by pushing the human body beyond its limits. Under normal conditions, the body's internal thermostat produces perspiration that evaporates and cools the body. However, in extreme heat and high humidity, evaporation is slowed and the body must work extra hard to maintain a normal temperature. Elderly people, young children, and those who are sick or overweight are more likely to become victims of extreme heat. Because men sweat more than women, they are more susceptible to heat illness because they become more quickly dehydrated.

The duration of excessive heat plays an important role in how people are affected by a heat wave. Studies have shown that a significant rise in heat-related illnesses happens when excessive heat lasts more than two days. Spending at least two hours per day in air conditioning significantly cuts down on the number of heat-related illnesses.

The parameters of an extreme heat watch, warning, or advisory can vary by location. Generally, temperatures that hover 10 degrees or more above the average high temperature for the region, last for prolonged periods of time, and are often accompanied by high humidity, that the body cannot tolerate are defined as extreme heat. A heat wave is a very dangerous situation.

People living in urban areas may be at greater risk from the effects of a prolonged heat wave than people living in rural regions. An increased health problem, especially for those with respiratory difficulties, can occur when stagnant atmospheric conditions trap pollutants in urban areas, thus adding unhealthy air to excessively hot temperatures. In addition, asphalt and concrete store heat longer and gradually releases heat at night, which produces significantly higher nighttime temperatures in urban areas known as the "urban heat island effect."

Risk Factors and Survival Tips

Some family members may be taking medications or have medical conditions that may cause poor blood circulation or reduced ability to tolerate heat. Discuss these concerns with a physician. A physician can advise you about changes to medication or other activities you can do to temporarily relieve the effects of heat.

Plan to check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning or who spend much of their time alone. Elderly persons who live alone or with a working relative might need assistance on hot days. The majority of deaths during the 1995 Midwest heat wave were persons who were alone.

NEVER leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach over 140 degrees Fahrenheit within minutes. Exposure to such high temperatures can kill in minutes.

If your home does not have air conditioning, choose other places you go to get relief from the heat during the warmest part of the day. Schools, libraries, theaters, and other community facilities often provide air-conditioned refuge on the hottest days. Air conditioning provides the safest escape from extreme heat. During the 1995 Midwest heat wave, most deaths happened to people not in air conditioned locations.

Plan changes in your daily activities to avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Ill effects of heat can quickly overcome the healthiest people, if they perform strenuous work during the warmest parts of the day. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. Many heat emergencies are experienced by people exercising or working during the hottest part of the day.

Drink plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. Injury and death can occur from dehydration, which can happen quickly and unnoticed. Symptoms of dehydration are often confused with other causes. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease; who are on fluid-restrictive diets; or who have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They can make you feel good briefly, but make the heat's effects on your body worse. This is especially true about beer, which actually dehydrates the body.

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THE HERBAL CORNER

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Did you know that the GINGER herb is useful for:

• preventing motion sickness and vomiting?
• improving digestion and appetite?
• fighting coughs, sore throats, colds, flu, and fevers?
• reducing cholesterol?
• relieving migraine headaches?

Ginger, also known as Jamaican Ginger, African Ginger, or Asian Ginger, is available as fresh or dried root, liquid extract, tablets, capsules, or prepared tea. Candied Ginger can be found in most Oriental food markets. There are no reports of severe toxicity in humans from using Ginger, but recent pharmacological studies indicate that very large overdoses might carry the potential for causing depression of the central nervous system and cardiac arrhythmias. Ginger is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's list of herbs generally regarded as safe. Some people have complained of heartburn after taking Ginger to combat motion sickness.

For information on an outstanding nutritional formulation called RICH 'N GREEN that contains Ginger and other healthful nutrients, please see: http://www.aomega.com/ahs/r1108b.htm

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HEALTHY RECIPE-OF-THE-MONTH