Methodist Healthcare reminds community of summer heat safety amidst rise in temperatures

Summer is a wonderful time of year. Kids are out of school and family and friends are enjoying the great outdoors. Unfortunately, summer fun comes with the risk of sunburns and heat-related illness as well as burns associated with fireworks, campfires, and outdoor cooking. Methodist Healthcare has some easy preventative measures to take toward preserving the fun!

Emergency Department experts at Methodist Hospital say they see a peak in heat-related hospital visits, especially heat exhaustion, during the height of the summer. With intense Texas summer heat on the way, experts warn that prolonged exposure to heat can lead to dehydration, overheating, and illness.

Fun in the sun

There are three stages of heat-related illness:

1. Heat cramps: Severe muscle spasms occur as a result of salt and water loss, most often felt in hands, calves, and feet.
2. Heat exhaustion: More than just feeling fatigued, heat exhaustion is a serious condition caused by exposure to high temperatures, humidity, and strenuous physical activity. Symptoms include weakness, dizziness, fainting, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
3. Heat stroke: Considered a medical emergency, symptoms include confusion, lack of sweat, organ failure, and convulsions or seizures.

You can reduce your risk of heat-related illness by increasing fluid intake and limiting alcohol use — alcohol and even caffeine can actually dehydrate the body. Take frequent breaks in cool and shady or air-conditioned places if spending extended time outside and remember to reduce normal outdoor activity levels, especially during the hottest periods of the day. Speak with your physician about how to stay safe if you take medicines that make you more vulnerable to heat, such as drugs for high blood pressure, migraines, allergies, muscle spasms, and mental illness.

Never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles, especially during warm or hot weather, as temperature levels inside a car can reach a deadly level in a matter of minutes. Children, older individuals, outdoor workers, and those with chronic health conditions are most vulnerable to heat-related illness.

If you suspect dangerous signs of heat exhaustion in others, it’s important to act quickly. Move the person out of the heat and place them in a cool environment. Have them drink cool water and place cold wet cloths or ice on the head, neck, armpits, and groin; or soak the clothing with cool water. Advise that they remove any tight or heavy clothing to help lower their internal temperature.

Nothing ruins your summer fun worse than a bad sunburn. One of the most important ways to avoid sunburn is the use of sunscreen. Ensure you are using sunscreen of at least 30 SPF, and remember that it should be applied 30 minutes before going out in the sun. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied regularly, especially if you are sweating profusely or spending time in the water. It’s important to know sunscreen isn’t appropriate for children under six months of age, and all children under one year old should be kept out of direct sunlight. In general, everyone should avoid tanning for long periods, particularly between 10:00am and 4:00pm.

Even on cloudy days, UV rays are still present, and the capacity for a sunburn still exists. If you experience sunburn, take a pain reliever and drink plenty of fluids. Seek medical attention if your sunburn develops large, painful blisters; you start showing signs of dehydration; or if you develop a headache or dizziness, fever and chills, or an upset stomach.

Fires, cooking and grilling

The start of summer also means grilling season for many, which should always include an extra serving of caution on the menu. It starts with setting up a safe, well-ventilated area for the grill that includes a no-kid zone. Though gas grills are typically more dangerous, both gas and charcoal grills can be responsible for burn injuries as well as home, structure, and outdoor fires.

Additional safety precautions to consider when grilling

• Keep your grill at least 10 feet away from your house, bushes, or other flammable materials.
• Never, ever use a match to check for leaks. You can find leaks by spraying soapy water on gas line connections. If you see water bubbles, there is a leak.
• Never use an accelerant such as gasoline to light a grill, bonfire or debris pile. Gas fumes can ignite and cause a large explosion.
• Be careful when using lighter fluid. Do not add fluid on an already lit fire because the flames can flashback up into the container and explode.
• Never try to light a gas grill with the lid closed, as trapped gas or fumes could cause an explosion.
• Always wear short sleeves and/or tight-fitting clothing while grilling.
• Use utensils with long handles to stay clear of hot surfaces.
• Always shut off the propane tank valve when not in use.
• Dispose of hot coals properly: Soak with water, then stir and soak again to make sure the fire is out.

Pain caused by very minor burns should go away within a few days. If not, call your doctor or go to the nearest emergency room.

While we hope your summer is a safe one, should something happen to you or your children, Methodist Healthcare is available to treat you with local, around-the-clock access to emergency care. Methodist Hospital is also home to the Burn and Reconstructive Program, a certified and equipped center to treat all burn types for both adult and pediatric patients.

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