| With the extreme heat that Calhoun County has been experiencing, it is a good idea to know some signs of heat related illness, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Calhoun County Emergency Medical Squad would like to offer some warning signs to keep Calhoun citizens safe and let you know when it is a good time to call for medical help.
Heat exhaustion is a mild form of heat-related illness that can develop during exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment.
Warning signs include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, or fainting.
To care for heat exhaustion, rest in a cool shaded area, give plenty of water and other cool fluids such as sports drinks that will replace the salt (electrolytes) that has been lost, loosen or remove clothing, and stay away from caffeine rich drinks such as coffee and soda pop.
If these symptoms persist for more than an hour or at any time are accompanied by chest pain, difficulty breathing, sudden weakness or numbness call 911 immediately.
Heat stroke is a more severe form of heat related illness resulting in an abnormally elevated body temperature, or hyperthermia. The body normally generates heat, and is usually able to dissipate the heat either by radiation of heat through the skin or by evaporation of sweat.
In high humidity, extreme heat, or vigorous exertion under the sun, the body may not be able to dissipate the heat and the body temperature rises. Another cause of heat stroke is dehydration. A dehydrated person may not be able to sweat fast enough to dissipate heat, which causes the body temperature to rise. Those most prone to heat stroke are infants, the elderly, athletes, any person with heart, lung, or kidney disease, or those taking certain types of medications that may increase the vulnerability of heat stroke.
Warning signs include high body temperature, the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, strange behavior, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, disorientation, seizures, or a coma.
If any of the symptoms are observed, call 911 immediately and get the person to a cool area. Remove any unnecessary clothing and apply cool or tepid water to the skin. Ice packs under the armpits and groin will help the body in the cooling process until emergency services can arrive.
As always, Calhoun County EMS urges anyone who experiences any of the symptoms listed above, or who needs medical attention at any time for any reason, to call 911 immediately.
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