With excessive heat forecast for our area Friday and Saturday, the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department is reminding people to stay safe.
More than 600 people in the United States are killed by extreme heat each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Heat-related illnesses, like heat exhaustion and heat stroke, happen when the body is not able to properly cool itself. This can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs.
Older adults, young children and those with mental illnesses and chronic disease are at the highest risk of developing a heat-related illness.
Here are some tips from the CDC for preventing heat-related illness:
- Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing
- Stay indoors in an air-conditioned space as much as possible
- Electric fans will not prevent heat-related illness. It’s better to take a cool shower or bath or move to an air-conditioned space
- Limit outdoor activities to when it’s coolest, like the morning and evening hours
- Cut down on exercise in the heat
- Wear sunscreen
- Never leave children or pets in cars. Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open.
- Drink plenty of water, even if you’re not thirsty
- Check on people who are at higher risk: infants and young children, people 65 and older, those who are overweight, those who overexert themselves during exercise or work, and people who are physically ill