POSTED: Friday, August 3, 2012 - 10:55am
UPDATED: Friday, August 3, 2012 - 5:55pm
BATON ROUGE, LA (NBC33) — A heat advisory has been issued for Friday, Aug 3, which means that the heat index will be over 108 degrees for more than four hours (between 10:40 a.m. through 6:45 p.m.) of the day. For those working outdoors, that creates the potential for a dangerous medical issue.
“When it starts you get hot, weak, faint, become nauseous with possible vomiting,” Mike Chutz, BR EMS, said when explaining the early symptoms of heat exhaustion. “Later on you’ll get cramps, mostly in the legs and abdomen. If that goes untreated and the person does not cool off, it can lead to heat stroke, which is the most severe case and is considered an extreme emergency condition.”
In the past five days EMS workers have responded to 12 calls for heat related issues. That number only includes patients within the Baton Rouge city limits.
“Thankfully, most will take a break and go inside when they experience the early signs of heat exhaustion,” Chutz noted.
A major indicator that you are at the end stage of heat exhaustion and moving to a possible heat stroke is when you stop sweating. That is the body’s way of regulating temperature, so without sweat, your condition can quickly worsen.
“A mistake most people will make is to wet their shirt with water,” Chutz noted. “The wet shirt actually seals the heat in and it makes you hotter and causes your body temperature to go up. Your body cools itself by evaporating sweat, and you can’t evaporate sweat if you’re wearing a wet shirt.”
What you should do if you feel symptoms is to immediately remove yourself from direct sunlight. The best thing to do is get to a shaded area, preferably indoors with a fan or air conditioning. Then, hydration with water or a sports drink should be your focus.
“If you know you’re going to be outdoors for a long period of time, you will want to drink plenty of water the night before and throughout the day. Also, you will want to limit your caffeine and alcohol intake. You want to wear light colored, loose fitting clothes and a cap that is designed to let off heat. Your body releases a lot of heat from the head. If you’re wearing a confined hat, it can make your temperature rise. Tennis hats are a great example of the right type of hat to wear. It’s specifically designed to release heat.”
With the temperatures this high, it doesn’t take long for your body to suffer, especially for children and the elderly. That’s why EMS reiterates the dangers of leaving a child in a hot car.
“A vehicle parked in the sun can get up to 130 degrees on a day like today,” Chutz concluded. “If you have a child in that car, it only takes minutes for them to suffer a heat stroke. That’s because their body cannot regulate heat as well as an adult.
“Never leave your kid in a hot car for any period of time.”
The heat advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service for Ascension; Assumption; East Baton Rouge; East Feliciana; Iberville; LAZ069; Livingston; Lower Jefferson; Lower Lafourche; Lower St. Bernard; Lower Terrebonne; Northern Tangipahoa; Orleans; Pointe Coupee; Southern Tangipahoa; St. Charles; St. Helena; St. James; St. John The Baptist; St. Tammany; Upper Jefferson; Upper Lafourche; Upper Plaquemines; Upper St. Bernard; Upper Terrebonne; Washington; West Baton Rouge; West Feliciana.