COLUMBUS – The onset of extreme heat has prompted warnings from health officials about heat-related illnesses, which range from painful heat cramps to potentially deadly heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Excessive heat warnings are in place across Ohio as temperatures will approach 100 degrees.
Summer Activities are in full swing with fairs, camps, outdoor work. PLEASE use caution and common sense, and always check on the elderly, the very young and pets to ensure they have ways to keep cool. #ohwx #kywx #inwx pic.twitter.com/xcVmyD38GG
— NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) July 18, 2019
“Our bodies are usually very good at controlling their temperature, but extremely hot conditions over an extended period of time can stress even the most efficient system,” said Dr. Amy Acton, director of the Ohio Department of Health.
Communities are asking residents to check in on family members and neighbors and Ohioans are being reminded to check on the elderly.
“As we age, we sometimes find that our bodies can’t handle extreme conditions as well as when we were younger,” Ursel McElroy, director of the Ohio Department of Aging, said. “Know your limitations and balance activity with measures to help your body stay cool. Check on older loved ones and neighbors regularly, since they are at increased risk for heat-related illness and complications.”
Heat cramps: muscle pains and spasms, mostly in the legs, caused by dehydration and exertion.
Heat exhaustion: caused by heavy sweating and results in not enough fluids to support your vital organs. A serious and potentially life-threatening illness. Seek medical attention. Symptoms include: cool, moist, pale, flushed, or red skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and lack of energy. Take steps to reduce the body temperature and increase hydration: Move to a cooler environment; drink cool, non-alcoholic liquids; loosen or remove clothing; cool the body with wet towels or a cool shower or bath.
Heat stroke: a life-threatening condition in which the individual’s body is no longer able to control its own internal temperature. Symptoms: hot, red, and dry skin; rapid, weak pulse; rapid, short breathing; and high fever.
Source: Ohio Dept. of Health
Organizations are accepting donations of fans to distribute to older residents who may not have air-conditioning, may be unable to afford to run it or even to go outside on their front porches, Lifecare Alliance president and CEO Chuck Gehring said.
He says a box fan, available at most retailers for less than $20, can lower the temperature of a room by 10 degrees, which can help prevent heat illness in the elderly.
“I always tell people, turn off your air-conditioning for a day, keep your windows and doors closed, and just sit there for a while, see what happens. It is horrendous,” he said.
Residents can buy new box fans and bring them to any central Ohio fire station and Lifecare Alliance, which delivers to 2,000 to 3,000 Meals on Wheels clients daily will take the fans to anyone who needs one.
To ask for a fan, Gehring says residents or family members can call 614-437-2870
Donations of fans are also being accepted at Delaware County fire stations, EMS stations and Delaware County District Library branches.
Gehring says central Ohio has not recorded a heat-related fatality for approximately 10 years while Cleveland reported 10 in 2018 alone.
Older residents are vulnerable to oppressively hot conditions that exacerbate breathing problems or can lead to serious illnesses. Heat stroke, for example, can cause disorientation or strange behavior which may be more difficult to identify in someone who suffers from dementia, McElroy said.
He recommends drinking non-alcoholic beverages and avoid extremely cold liquids and drinks with high levels of sugar or caffeine, wear loose-fitting clothing and spend time in the AC.