Heat waves are becoming hotter, longer, more common and deadlier. With another extreme heat wave on the way, we asked Arianne Teherani, PhD, UC San Francisco professor of medicine and cofounder of UCSF's Center for Climate, Health and Equity, and Gina Solomon, MD, MPH, clinical professor of occupational, environmental and climate medicine about the dangers of heat and what to do to stay safe.
The Center for Climate, Health and Equity is an education and research hub shaping climate action for health by seeking out solutions to ensure health systems respond to the climate crisis.
What should people do to keep safe during hot days?
- Drink more water. For older people and young kids, don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink water. Try to keep your fluid intake up throughout a hot spell.
- Stay in a cool or air-conditioned place. If you don't have access to a home air conditioner, try to go to a mall, library or cooling center that does.
- Wear loose, light-colored clothes.
- Take frequent baths or showers, if you can, to cool down or use a wet cloth to keep your skin moist.
- Reduce and restrict your physical activity. If you have to be physically active, do it early in the morning or in the evening when temperatures are cooler.
- Avoid excessive alcohol because it is a diuretic, which causes your body to lose fluids.
- Check in on friends, family and neighbors that could be at a high risk for a heat-related illness. Remember, infants and pets can also be at high-risk for illness during hot days.
What common heat-related illnesses should people watch out for?
Heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are all things to watch out for.
As our body sweats to cool off, we lose salt and moisture, which can lead to heat cramps. Heat cramps can be a sign of heat exhaustion alongside feeling weak, dizzy, headaches and nausea.
Eventually, if our body temperature rises too high, we can experience heatstroke.
Heatstroke requires emergency treatment. Heatstroke symptoms include red, hot, dry skin; a racing heartbeat; confusion and slurred speech. If left untreated, it can cause seizures, organ damage, coma or even death.
What are signs you may need medical care?
If someone you know is experiencing confusion, a racing pulse or breathing fast and shallow, seek medical attention. If they have symptoms like headache, nausea, vomiting and dizziness get them to a cool place with water right away. If the symptoms get worse or last longer than an hour seek care.
