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Beat the Heat
Family Caregiving

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters, provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply, teaches lifesaving skills, and supports military members and their families.

We are a charitable organization -- not a government agency -- and depend on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform our humanitarian mission.

Take care this summer to beat the heat

Below you will find tips on how your family can stay cool

 
  •  NEVER leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles. Temperatures

inside a closed vehicle can reach over 140 degrees F within minutes.

Exposure to such high temperatures can kill in minutes.
  •  Air conditioning provides the safest escape from extreme heat - there

are ways to maximize how it can work for you: Install window air

conditioners snugly. Check air-conditioning ducts for proper insulation.

Vacuum air conditioner filters weekly during periods of high use to provide

more cool air. Make sure your home is properly insulated, too. This will help

conserve electricity and reduce your home's power demands for air

conditioning.
  •  If your home does not have air conditioning, go elsewhere to get relief during

the warmest part of the day. Stay indoors as much as possible, on the lowest

floor out of the sunshine. Keep heat outside and cool air inside, closing any

doors or windows that may allow heat in. Consider keeping storm windows

installed throughout the year to keep the heat out of a house. Plan to check

on family, friends, and neighbors –especially the elderly - who do not

have air conditioning or who spend much of their time alone.
  •  Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing that will cover as

much skin as possible. Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and

sunlight and helps maintain normal body temperature. Cover as much skin as

possible to avoid sunburn and over-warming effects of sunlight on your body.

Protect your face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, which will keep

direct sunlight off your head and face. Sunlight can burn and warm the inner

core of your body.
  • Drink plenty of water and other 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.

Your body needs water to keep cool. Water is the safest liquid to drink during

heat emergencies.
  • 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. 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.
  • Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. Reduce, eliminate or reschedule

strenuous activities. Get plenty of rest to allow your natural "cooling system"

to work. 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.

  •  Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors. Use a buddy system

when working in extreme heat. Partners can keep an eye on each other

and can assist each other when needed. Sometimes exposure to heat can

cloud judgment. Chances are if you work alone, you may not notice this.
  • Get training and be alert to heat related illness symptoms. Take an

American Red Cross First Aid course to learn how to treat heat and

other emergencies. Everyone should know how to respond, because the

effects of heat can happen very quickly.

        Watch for these health signals:

                  •  Heat cramps: 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. 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 and

make conditions worse.

                       • Heat exhaustion: Cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; heavy sweating;

headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness and exhaustion. One’s body

temperature may be normal, or is likely to be rising. 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.

                      • Heat stroke: Hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak

pulse and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very

high--sometimes as high as 105 degrees F. If the person was sweating

from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel

dry. Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call

9-1-1 or your local emergency number.
©2007 American Red Cross of Union County American Red Cross of Union County 608 E. Franklin Street   Monroe, NC 28112
Telephone: Union - 704-283-7402 | Fax: 704-282-0810