With extreme heat and the summer season now here, Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy is reminding everyone to stay indoors in cool conditions as much as possible, to drink plenty of fluids and to keep tabs on elderly friends and neighbors.
“When the mercury starts to climb this high, it doesn’t take long to get overheated or dehydrated,” McCoy said. “We all need to know the signs and symptoms of heat stroke and exhaustion to avoid serious injury or death.”
Heat exhaustion can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and not drinking enough fluids. Those most at risk are elderly people and those with high blood pressure. Symptoms include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting and fainting. Skin may be cool and moist. Pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke.
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness and occurs when the body can’t control its temperature and could be deadly. Symptoms include an extremely high body temperature (above 103F), red, hot and dry skin (no sweating), rapid, strong pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and unconsciousness.
The New York State Department of Health offers the following recommendations when temperatures climb:
- Be aware of the signs of heat illness and immediately get themselves or any person demonstrating these symptoms to a cool place, have them remove extra clothes, and drink lots of water. If they don’t improve, call 911 or get them to the emergency room right away.
- Avoid strenuous activity and exercise during the hottest part of the day. Instead, limit these activities to the early morning hours or in the evening — when the temperatures tend to be lower.
- Drink at least two to four glasses of water per hour during extreme heat, even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid beverages containing alcohol or caffeine.
- Infants less than six months of age should not be given water. On hot days, they can be breastfed more often, or given additional breast milk or formula in a bottle.
- Stay out of the sun and seek air-conditioned settings. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor of your home, keep the window shades or blinds closed to block the sun, or go to an indoor space with air conditioning (such as libraries, malls, supermarkets, or friends’ homes).
- Take a cool shower or bath using tepid water. Sudden temperature changes may make you feel dizzy or sick.
- If you must go outdoors, wear sunscreen with a high sun protector factor (SPF) rating of at least 15 and a hat to protect your face and head. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing. Cover as much skin as possible to avoid direct sun on your body.
The National Weather Service has a Heat Risk Tool that updates hourly to show the current heat risks. The link is https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/
For a list of the updated cooler centers, go to https://www.albanycounty.com/home and click on the rotator on the home page or access the state site for all counties at https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/weather/cooling/.
