The heat wave coming to central Ohio this week could do more than make you a little sweaty − it poses serious risks to your health.
Temperatures in Newark are expected to reach a high of 96 degrees this week, thanks to the incoming “heat dome,” according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington. Even higher “feels like” temperatures of more than 100 degrees are forecast, meaning your body will feel hotter because high humidity prevents your sweat from cooling you effectively.
The weather service is predicting highs of 94 degrees in Newark on Tuesday, June 30; 96 degrees on July 1 and July 2; and 95 on July 3.
The heat wave, of course, comes as soccer fans gather for World Cup games across the country and Fourth of July celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding kick off.
Dr. Brad Gable, an emergency medicine physician with OhioHealth, said that the health system is gearing up for the expected spike in heat-related visits. This holiday week promises a lot of fun, but with primarily outdoor activities, if you’re not careful, fun could turn fatal.
What are the signs your body is overheating?
Signs of your body overheating can be easily missed. If you’ve been out in the sun for a while and start to have a headache, that might not be because you missed a morning cup of coffee, Gable noted.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges people to be mindful of their environment and take action if they start feeling:
Heat stroke is the most serious of heat-related illnesses, and happens when your body can no longer regulate its own temperature. If untreated, it can lead to permanent disability, such as brain damage or organ problems, or death, Gable said. The signs, per the CDC, include:
Children, elderly among most vulnerable during heat waves
Extreme heat takes a toll on everybody, but children, people over age 65, pregnant women, people with chronic illnesses and people with asthma are at increased risk of harm. Those populations’ bodies aren’t always so primed to regulate their temperature for various reasons, Gable explained.
Outdoor workers and athletes are also at increased risk.
The CDC urges people to check on their loved ones and neighbors who fit these categories, live alone, or have other chronic conditions.
Individuals who fit these categories or their caretakers should take extra precautions in extreme heat, especially with medications. The CDC advises that people have a backup plan for storing medications that may need to be refrigerated or kept out of the heat.
Those with medications like antidepressants, stimulants, blood pressure medication and even over-the-counter antihistamines need to be particularly careful, Gable noted. If a known symptom of a medication you are taking causes dehydration, consult your doctor about continuing the medication but do not abruptly stop taking it without medical advice.
How to stay safe in extreme heat
The most universally recommended advice is to stay inside as much as possible during a heat wave, but other safety tips include.
I have no air conditioning. Where can I go?
If you have no air conditioning, fans are useful, but only to an extent. If the indoor temperature reaches 90 degrees or higher, the circulating air could make you hotter instead of cooling you down, according to the CDC.
Take cool showers or baths to keep your body temperature down. Reach out to friends and loved ones with air conditioning available, or check out other resources available in your community, such as the local library, senior centers and heat centers offered by some cities.
Business and consumer issues reporter Samantha Hendrickson can be reached at shendrickson@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Heat could pose serious health risks in Newark, Licking County
Reporting by Samantha Hendrickson, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Samantha Hendrickson, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
