Jun 25, 2002 4 min read

Play it cool. According to Monongahela Valley Hospital, that’s the best advice area residents can follow in trying to beat the heat waves Mother Nature locks us in during the summer. Andrew C. Allison, D.O., director of emergency medical services at the hospital, said there is a general increase in the number of patients treated in the emergency department during the summer months. Part of the increase includes additional patients with symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

Allison said there are many ways to combat the sweltering high temperatures and stifling humidity. He suggested that people:

– Try to stay in cool, dry places. Indoors, use an air-conditioner or fans to ensure proper ventilation.

– Avoid over-exertion or “overdoing it” if they are involved in work or recreation outdoors. Try to rest as much as possible during such activities.

– Drink plenty of cool liquids such as water and juice. Avoid coffee or tea, which can increase urine output and alcohol, which has an adverse effect on the body’s cooling system.

– Eat light meals and foods rich in carbohydrates for energy.

– Bathe or shower frequently in cool water.

Special care also needs to be taken while playing or working under the pleasant but often dangerous rays of the sun, Allison warned. Overexposure to the sun can seriously damage the skin and could ultimately lead to skin cancer, he said.

To help protect the skin from the sun’s rays, Allison said people should follow these suggestions:

– Cover up. Wear light-colored clothing of lightweight fabrics and clothing that will protect your head and face and other exposed parts of the body. Use an umbrella or wear a hat.

– Use sunscreen. These are very helpful in preventing sunburn. Be sure to use a sun block with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.

– Limit your exposure to the sun. The midday sun is the most harmful so try to restrict your daily outdoor activities between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“You can get sunburned even on a cloudy day by the sun’s reflection from surfaces such as sand or water,” Allison said. “Also remember to take extra care in protecting children during outdoor activities. They are especially susceptible to sunburn and skin damage.”

Allison also noted that sunburn is mostly first- and second-degree burns.

A first-degree sunburn turns the skin red. Cold, wet compresses and some ointments may help alleviate the pain and swelling. Do not use margarine or butter on the affected area because it can restrict heat dissipation and may cause tissue breakdown, Allison stated.

For a second-degree sunburn, characterized by blistering of the skin, cold, wet compresses again are the “best treatment.” But be careful not to rub the area because the blister acts as a protective cover over the sensitive and easily irritated skin below.

For a more serious burn, seek medical attention via your family physician or hospital emergency department.

Allison also cautioned that elderly persons and those with chronic lung or heart illnesses should be especially careful during a heat wave. They are more susceptible to the severe effects of the heat, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Heat exhaustion is caused by loss of body water and salt and can result in profuse sweating, higher temperatures, nausea and dizziness. The remedy is to get the person to a cooler, shaded area and place wet, cool towels on the head. Provide cool liquids, not alcohol, and have the person lie down with his legs and feet elevated.

Heat stroke has similar characteristics to heat exhaustion, except that sweating stops and the body temperature increases to 105 degrees or higher with a possible loss of consciousness. This is a “life-threatening situation,” Allison said, and the person needs to be “cooled down” as soon as possible by using a lot of cool water and cool liquids. The person should be taken to a hospital emergency department as soon as possible.

“These are just a few of the precautions that can be taken to avoid the effects of the intense heat and humidity and the procedures taken to treat them,” Allison said. “Again, the best advice is to ‘play it cool’ and use common sense.”