5 Facts Concerning Heat-Related Illnesses

Courtesy of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, here are five facts about heat-related illnesses:

1. Certain kinds of jobs put people at risk of heat stress. They include: outdoor workers, firefighters, bakery workers, farmers, construction workers, boiler room workers, and factory workers. In any kind of job, people who are 65 or older, who are overweight, have heart disease or high blood pressure, or take medications, may be affected as well.

2. Heat stroke is the most serious form of heat illness. It can cause death or permanent disablility. According to the CDC website: "the body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down." Symptoms include slurred speech, hallucinations, hot skin, and chills. Fan this person, or soak their skin with cool cloths, and call 911.

3. Heat exhaustion, also serious, is the body's response to loss of water and salt, usually through excessive sweating. Symptoms include dizziness, extreme fatigue, nausea, pale or flushed complexion, clammy skin. Give the person some water and get them to a cooler location.

4. Heat syncope, is a fainting episode or dizziness that often occurs when someone stands suddenly. Factors that contribute include dehydration and lack of acclimatizaiton. Drink water and sit in a cool place.

5. Heat cramps, are painful cramps in the abdomen, arms or legs and may affect people who are engaging in strenuous activity. The cramps, according to the CDC, are caused by low salt levels in muscles and "may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion." Stop all activity and get the person to a cool place, and have them drink some fluids.