Red Cross: How To Recognize and Treat Heat Emergencies

How to Recognize and Treat Heat Emergencies 

Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are conditions caused by overexposure to 

heat. Heat cramps are the least severe but, if not cared for, may be followed by heat 

exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are heat-related illnesses. 

Generally, illnesses caused by overexposure to extreme temperatures are preventable. 

To prevent heat emergencies from happening to you or anyone you know, follow these 

guidelines: 

• Avoid being outdoors in the hottest part of the day. • Change your activity level according to the temperature. • Take frequent breaks. • Dress appropriately for the environment. • Drink large amounts of fluids before, during, and after activity. The easiest way to prevent illness caused by temperature extremes is to avoid being outside during the part of the day when temperatures are most extreme. 

Heatstroke 

The signals of heatstroke include— 

hot, red skin which can be dry, or moist from exercise;  

changes in consciousness;  

rapid, weak pulse; 

rapid, shallow breathing, vomiting.  

A person experiencing heatstroke can have a very high body temperature—sometimes 

as high as 106°F (41° C).  

What to do for heat stroke— 

Heatstroke is a life-threatening situation. If you suspect someone is suffering from 

heatstroke, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number immediately:  

1. Move the person to a cool place. 2. Loosen tight clothing. 3. Remove perspiration-soaked clothing. 4. Apply cool, wet cloths to the skin. 5. Fan the person. 6. If conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink.  7. Place the person on his or her side. 8. Continue to cool the person by using ice or cold packs on the wrists, ankles, groin, and neck and in the armpits. 9. Continue to check breathing and circulation. 

Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine because they can cause further 

dehydration, making conditions worse. Ensure 9-1-1 or the local emergency 

number is called if the person refuses water, vomits or starts to lose 

consciousness. 

Heat Exhaustion 

The signals of heat exhaustion include— 

cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin;  

heavy sweating; 

headache;  

nausea, dizziness, and exhaustion;  

normal or below normal body temperature.  

What to do for heat exhaustion—If you suspect someone is suffering from heat 

exhaustion; 

1. Move the person to a cooler place;  

2. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets 

soaked in water.  

3. If the person is conscious, give him or her cool water to drink. Make sure the person 

drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. 

4. Let the person rest in a comfortable position; and  

5. Watch carefully for changes in his or her condition. 

Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine because they can cause further 

dehydration, making conditions worse. 

Heat Cramps 

Heat cramps are muscle spasms that are caused by excessive sweating that results in a 

deficiency of salt. Although not as serious as heat exhaustion or heatstroke, heat cramps 

sometimes precede them. If someone is suffering from heat cramps, move the 

person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. Lightly 

stretch and gently massage the affected muscle and replenish fluids. Give a half glass of 

cool water every 15 minutes.  

Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine because they can cause further 

dehydration, making conditions worse. 

House to House: Tips help homeowners stay cool, safe during hot weather

The following article printed in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and numerous papers throughout Arkansas is the sole product and property of the Arkansas Realtors Association.   To read more House to House columns from the statewide association, visit http://www.ArkansasRealtors.com/category/house-to-house.  

Good grief. As a write this, the temperatures in Arkansas are soaring higher and higher. Little Rock just hit 114 degrees thus becoming the hottest day ever on record in Little Rock — and records date back to 1877.

According to a news release I just received from MXenergy (they don’t serve Arkansas), the sweltering heat enveloping much of the country has caused heat-related deaths, broken at least 1,400 high-temperature records across the U.S. in July alone, and has many homeowners wondering if relief will ever come.


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Mom to Mom: Tips for Safely Enjoying Fourth of July Fireworks

As brilliant colors blanket the sky and the sound of fireworks echo in neighborhoods this fourth -of-July, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) offers fireworks safety tips to help prevent injuries during this traditional holiday.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 21,692 people were treated for injuries related to fireworks in 2011.

"Many people view these mini explosives as harmless, when in fact they can be very dangerous to people of all ages," said orthopaedic surgeon and AAOS spokesperson William Obremskey, MD. "Take it from one who picked up a "dud" as a kid and suffered minor burns. You can also lose a finger, damage your eyes or worse. To avoid injury, people should not use fireworks at home, but instead find a park or outdoor location that showcases fireworks."

There are plenty of ways for you to enjoy fireworks this summer without putting yourself or your family at risk. In an effort to reduce the number and severity of firework-related injuries, the Academy offers some safety guidelines for adults who do choose to use fireworks:

• Check with your local police department to determine if fireworks can be discharged legally in your area.  If so, determine which types are legal.
• Never buy or use illegal fireworks.  Their quality cannot be assured. 
• Only adults should light fireworks.
• Never hold lighted fireworks with your hand or place them near the body.
• Always have water handy in case of a fire. For example, a hose hooked to a faucet or a bucket of water. 
• Read the caution label on packaging before igniting.
• Wear safety eyewear when using fireworks.
• Soak used fireworks in water before discarding.
• Never try to relight a firework.
• If you are injured using fireworks, seek immediate medical attention.
• Never allow young children to play with or go near fireworks, including sparklers. They
  seem harmless but sparklers can reach temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees.
• Never handle fireworks if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.   

Arkansas AG: Help Your Family Surf Safely on Social Networks

According to Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, while social networking and other public Internet sites provide a sense of connection and social interactivity, these sites can create a false sense of security and anonymity online. For children, these sites can pose a threat as online predators use them as a portal for finding victims.

As part of National Internet Safety Month, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel today released online
safety tips for parents and their children engaged in social networking.

"Last week, I met with an Arkansas mother whose teen daughter was killed by a man police believe
lured the girl using a social networking site," McDaniel said. "As a parent, I'm horrified that someone would reach our vulnerable children in this way. As Attorney General, I want to do everything I can to make sure other parents don't face the nightmare that the mother I met is enduring."

Social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, have exploded in popularity among Americans in recent years. According to Facebook, over 845 million users log on to its site at least once a month. Over 425 million people use Facebook's mobile products.

Although social networking sites can be valuable resources to connect with friends and acquaintances online, it is important to remember to be careful when using them because the information you post online can be used to make you or your children a victim.

Safety Tips
• Be sure to set your privacy settings to the most secure setting available. Ensure that you're sharing information with only your friends, and not with the Internet at large.
• First and foremost, make a unique password for each social media site you use. If an unauthorized individual accesses your account, they can use it to send spam to other users, scam your friends and family, or use the information to scam you.
• If you do have your profile viewable by the public, do not post information that would let someone know that your house was empty or that you are home alone. Posting that you're leaving town for a few days could be an invitation for someone to break into your home. Likewise, if you have children who use these sites, make sure they are aware that they should never indicate online that they are home alone.
• Think carefully about what information you post online. An electronic record of what you say will likely be online forever, which might come back to haunt you in the future.
• Follow the "Front Page Rule": Don't post anything online that you wouldn't be comfortable seeing on the front page of your newspaper.
• Remember that employers, universities, and even attorneys often check Facebook and other social media sites for information that you've posted online.
Tips for parents
• Understand that if your child comes into contact with an online predator, it is not the child's fault. The child is the victim.
• Talk to your child about sexual victimization and the potential of online danger.
• Spend time with your children online. Have them teach you about the Internet.
• Keep the computer in a common room of the house, not in your child's bedroom.
• Utilize parental controls available from your service provider or use blocking software.
• Always maintain access to your child's online account and monitor email.
• Teach your children the responsible use of the online resources.
• Find out the computer safeguards being utilized at your child's school, the public library, and at the home of your child's friends.
• Never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they met online.
• Never automatically assume that what they are told online is the truth.

For more information about consumer-related issues, or to file a complaint, visit GotYourBackArkansas.org or call the Consumer Protection Division's hotline at (800) 482-8982.

House to House: Bees in residence cause danger to homeowners, neighbors

This week’s column was co-written by Little Rock Realtor Michelle Honea Dyer.

Last fall, neighbors alerted my friend Michelle that they were seeing bees on the far side of her home. They had small children playing in the area and wanted her to be aware so that she might have it investigated. Sure enough, there were lots of bees. Michelle called around and found a local pest control company that specialized in bees.

They came to her house and watched over several days and decided that they should try to “dust” them out. The company applied this dusting process in the late fall, hoping that it would remove them. Winter came and Michelle crossed her fingers that they had either moved on or found a new home. Nope.

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House to House: Tips help readers get bats out of belfry, other areas of home

The following article printed in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette  and numerous papers throughout Arkansas is the sole product and property of the Arkansas Realtors Association. 

I don’t know if it is the warm weather, but there seems to be a lot more news about bats in Arkansas lately. Just last week I was reading about a bat with rabies being found near the Old Mill in North Little Rock.

The good news is that bats are one of the best insect controls there is, eating up to 600 mosquitoes each in an hour. We love this aspect of bats so much that my husband and I are considering building a bat house. We are getting our plans from the Organization for Bat Conservation website atwww.batconservation.org/drupal/free_plans.

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House to House: ARA, ASPCA offer tips to keep pets safe around holiday decor

The following article printed in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and numerous papers throughout Arkansas is the sole product and property of the Arkansas Realtors Association. The photo is by www.ARSportsPhoto.com.  

The staff at the Arkansas Realtors Association has been busy decorating our offices and our homes for the holidays.

We’ve been shopping for the “best deals” on indoor and outdoor lights, discussing how the recent rains might be impacting our outdoor lighting displays and growing more and more excited about spending the holidays with family and friends.

Like many people, this is one of my absolute favorite times of the year. I’ve always thought home never felt more like home than it does during the holidays. Maybe it’s the fire in the fireplace, the lights of the tree or the anticipation of young family members waiting for the day when all those presents can be popped open.

The one thing I’ve always missed because I have a house full of pets is surrounding my tree and my house with bright, big poinsettia plants. I always heard they were deadly to animals. Not so says the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center. Yes, eating them will make your dog or cat feel pretty awful — mouth and stomach irritations and vomiting — but the ASPCA says its toxicity is overrated.

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House to House: CDC tips help protect residents, rescue crews after disaster

The following article printed in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and papers throughout Arkansas is the sole product and property of the Arkansas Realtors Association. 

Knock on wood, I’ve never really had to deal with flooding or damage from tornadoes.

However, I keep in my thoughts the countless Americans who are still dealing with the wind damage and flooding that resulted from Hurricane Irene and the spring 2011 tornadoes. Lately, if you’ve seen me on any given weekend I am most likely wearing my “Willdabeast” shirt. The shirt memorializes the Joplin, Mo., teenager, Will Norton, who died in the May 22 tornado on his way home from his high school graduation. All proceeds from the T-shirt sales go to Joplin disaster relief.

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