Is your preparedness and safety plan no match for the summer heat? With every degree the temperature rises as we face more frequent heatwaves, it is important to understand what they are and what precautions to take next time a heatwave strikes.
What is Causing Heatwaves?
A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be accompanied by high humidity. The condition happens when a high-pressure area of warm air becomes stuck over one area for an extended period. This trapped air does not allow cooler air in and hence the temperatures keep going up. While heat waves occur in rural as well as urban areas, cities are particularly vulnerable due to what is known as the urban heat island effect: Concrete and asphalt absorb heat and radiate it, usually after dark.
Root cause of these extreme weather events such as Climate change, Global Warming, and Natural weather patterns Temperature-related health impacts fiatogel Heat waves have become more frequent and intense as a result of climate change. Heatwaves are more likely to happen when the entire planet is getting warmer and warmer — aided by rising greenhouse gas emissions.
Heat Waves and Their Effect on Health of Humans
Heat waves can put our health at risk, cause heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. These are conditions that happen when the body’s temperature regulation system is overwhelmed by intense heat. Extended periods of overheating can dehydrate, deplete electrolytes, and damage one of your internal organs.
During heat waves, these are the ones that are most at risk, especially the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and with pre-existing medical conditions. Your standard user is unlikely to be targeted, but anyone without proper protections in place can fall victim to these attacks. If heat-related illnesses are detected early, they can be treated and prevented more effectively. Understanding heat-related illnesses and the signs and symptoms is important.
Symptoms of Heat-Related Illnesses
Heat-related illnesses, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke, are the most common during a heat wave. So recognizing early warning signs can prevent them from turning into the other conditions.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and clammy skin. Without management of these signs, they can then develop into heatstroke, a potentially fatal condition. Heatstroke presents itself as a very raised body temperature, rapid heartbeat, possible confusion, muscle cramps, and a loss of consciousness.
If you or someone near you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it is important to get to a cool place, drink water, and get medical assistance right away:
How to Keep Safe in a Heat Wave
1. Stay Hydrated Staying hydrated even during a heat wave is a must so drink predominately water throughout the day. Steer clear from alcoholic and caffeinated drinks which can dehydrate you. Create water intake reminders for the day and have a bottle of water with you all the time. Strive to drink a minimum of 8 cups of water a day to stay properly hydrated.
2. Seek Air-Conditioned Spaces If your home lacks air conditioning, go to an air-conditioned place such as a shopping mall, library or a community center. They literally allow your body to cool off in the laying heat. If you do not have air conditioning, use fans and do not close all of your windows as this could reduce air circulation.
3. Dress Appropriately Opt for light, loose clothing constructed of natural, breathable fibers like cotton or linen. Wearing light-colored clothing reflects sun rays and helps in maintaining your body temperature. Stay away from dark clothes, or thick materials that can keep the heat in making it even hotter.
4. Limit Outdoor Activities We also recommend to try to avoid outdoor, strenuous work between 10 am and 4 pm, which is the peak heat hours. Take frequent breaks in cool places and if you have to be outside… stay in the shade. Schedule physical activities in the cooler mornings and evenings.
5. Protect Yourself from the Sun Healthy Face Healthy ShadeProtect your face and wear that wide-brimmed hat, along with sunglasses. Wear an appropriate sunscreen with high SPF for the skin that gets exposed and reapply it every 2 hours or so (more frequently if you are sweating or swimming). Sunburn can increase the amount of heat your body absorbs and the risk of heat-related illnesses.
Detecting High Risk During Heat Waves
The most vulnerable populations are identified to suffer the consequences of the heat waves. It is important to know who the high-risk persons are to protect such persons. These individuals include:
Older people – The body’s ability to regulate temperature decreases with age making older adults more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Children and babies: little kids have it a bit tougher controlling their body temperature as it is, so they may not be reliably able to tell you this as it gets bad! Pregnant women: Pregnant women go through hormonal changes that weaken the body’s ability to eliminate heat.
body’s ability to eliminate heat. People with chronic medical conditions: things like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease can make it harder to deal with exceedingly hot temperatures for the body. If you or someone you know falls in these high-risk categories, then you must take extra precautions and keep an eye on there health conditions during heatwaves.
Heat Wave Emergency Plan
1. Stay Informed
Keep informed on the weather and follow advisories issued by local government to avoid heat-related emergencies. Subscribe to emergency notifications and follow verified sources so you can keep up-to-date on the current Coronavirus information.
2. Know the Cooling Centers
Check with your area to locate cooling centers, such as public buildings or community centers that may be open and available to offer you relief from the oppressive heat. Always make sure to have their addresses and phone numbers close at hand just in case you or someone you know needs a place to stay on very short notice.
3. Monitor At Risk Individuals
Check in on elderly neighbors, friends and family members who might need help during a heat wave. Ice them down; ask if you could check on them every hour or so to make sure they are staying cool and hydrated.
4. Prepare an Emergency Kit
Pack an emergency kit with important supplies such as a first aid kit, battery operated fan, extra water, non-perishable food and any medications you require. Have everything in a place that is reachable in case you need to leave or have power outages.
Heatwave communication plan
1. Heat Wave Mitigation Support heatwave mitigation measures, such as urban greening, cool roofs, and sustainable urban planning, These are steps that can alleviate the heat island in cities and also improve the quality of life.
2. Public Health Interventions Public health agencies are critical for heat wave preparedness and response. To do this, they must offer learning to cope with heat-induced health conditions, source to heat protection alerts and aid community-based networks make the necessary needs and resources within times on the increased temperatures.
3. Early Warning Systems Each sentence below is the same sentence but in another words:D Writing effective early-warnings systems would be a huge boon for getting information out to the appropriate parties in advance of a heat wave. Such systems are required to be built using meteorological data, historical patterns and real-time monitoring to provide improved and more up-to-date information.
4. Community Engagement conduct heat wave preparedness through awareness campaigns, workshops and community events Promote that people need to be personally responsible for surviving extreme heats conditions.
Conclusion
Precaution is key to ensuring that you stay safe from heat waves. Know what causes heat waves, what symptoms to look for and how you can keep safe and cool during the dog days of summer. Stay cool, drink plenty of water, seek air-conditioned areas, and avoid outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day.
In times of heat waves be safe, also take care of others and keep an eye out for high-risk individuals. So with a little bit of preparation and mindfulness, you can stay out of the hot lane and make it through this summer season, as enjoyable and safe as ever. Stay cool! If you like reading this article, please consider reading our article about Mici.