Health Department On Heat Safety

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – With the high temperatures and humidity in our area the Health Department wants to remind everyone on the risks of heat illness.

Health Department Medical Director, Dr. Jack Butterfield, said it is imperative to stay up to date on heat temperatures, humidity, and especially the heat index. He says people have the ability to adjust their bodies to the environment through sweating. The sweat, as it evaporates, carries heat away from the bodies, and cools it off. But with extremely high temperatures, the sweat starts to have a hard time evaporating and you need to start thinking about heat safety. 

“However, if it is say 94 degrees, and you have 80 percent humidity..that sweat can’t evaporate in the air because it’s virtually saturated with moisture. So you cannot lower your body temperature, the result is you should begin to develop the science and symptoms of heat illness,” said Dr. Butterfield.  

Heat illness can vary from heat cramps. That can progress to heat exhaustion, which is a massive loss of fluids and leads to things like dizziness. And heat stroke is when the body loses its ability to regulate its temperature so there is an increase in body temperature, you have a rapid pulse, and a change in mental state. The best treatment of heat illness is prevention. Stay in air conditioned places, drink more water, wear loose clothing, and monitor outdoor activities. 

“The best treatment is avoidance. You want to stay out of that environment, if you are in that environment you want to be wearing loose-fitting, light clothing, hats. You want to drink plenty of fluids. You want to cool as often as you can. And save your life because heat illness can be fatal,” Dr. Butterfield added.

He also recommends to look out for your neighbors, especially those who don’t have air conditioning. Also those who are over 65 and young children. And lastly, check on your pets, and get them out of the heat and humidity as well.