The Ely Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank the over 3,225 individuals who showed up in the heat to support us and enjoy the food and friendship at our 47th annual pancake breakfast.
Signs and symptoms of Heat Emergencies
Heat Exhaustion
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
- muscle cramps
- dizziness
- mild confusion
- fast heart rate or breathing
- headache
- irritability
- extreme thirst
- nausea or vomiting
- pale skin
- heavy sweating
- fainting
Heatstroke
With heatstroke, all the symptoms of heat exhaustion may be present, plus:
- body temperature over 104°F
- irrational behavior or hallucinations
- confusion
- rapid, shallow breathing
- rapid, weak pulse
- seizures
- loss of consciousness
- dry skin
Sweating may be present in heatstroke. A person who is experiencing heatstroke might have very dry skin from dehydration.
Heat emergencies usually occur when someone has exercised too much in hot weather. Being confined or trapped in a place that heats up, such as a car, is also a cause of heat emergencies.
Heat emergencies are more common in:
- people who are overweight
- people who have been drinking alcohol
- older adults
- children
These risk factors are due to difficulty regulating the internal body temperature.
Older Adults and Heat Emergencies
During a period of hot weather, older adults who live alone are at particular risk for heat emergencies.
A study of 739 heat-related deaths in Chicago in 1995 found that older adults who lived alone but made daily connections with their friends and families were much more likely to avoid a fatal heat emergency.
If your area is experiencing high temperatures, make sure to regularly check on older adults and offer to help them escape the heat if you can.
Children and Heat Emergencies
Children are especially vulnerable to heat emergencies. If they’re playing in hot weather, they might be having so much fun, they don’t recognize the warning signs. Check on children frequently and make sure they have plenty of water.
Children can also die from heat-related illnesses when they’re left in cars or other vehicles, such as school buses. Never leave a child alone in a car — even if you think it’s not hot enough for them to be harmed. Always check a bus or carpool to make sure no one is left behind.
How Are Heat Emergencies Treated?
You can help yourself or others experiencing a heat emergency — especially the first two stages, cramping and exhaustion. Remember these three important things:
- Call 911 or go to the emergency room if the heat emergency is causing vomiting, seizures, or unconsciousness.
- Don’t give the person anything to drink if they’re vomiting or unconscious.
- Never offer a drink containing alcohol or caffeine to someone experiencing a heat emergency.
Heat Cramps
If you or someone you know is experiencing heat cramps, you should:
- Move to a cooler area, out of direct sunlight.
- Gently massage the cramping muscle.
- Stretch the muscle gently.
- Drink cool water or sports drinks every 15 minutes.
Heat Exhaustion
To treat heat exhaustion, you should:
- Move to a cooler area, out of direct sunlight.
- Loosen clothing.
- Apply cool, wet towels to your face, neck, chest, and limbs.
- Have someone fan your skin.
- Drink cool water or sports drinks every 15 minutes.
- Don’t drink too quickly.
Heatstroke
Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency. Call 911 or go to an emergency room immediately. In the meantime:
- Move the person to a cooler area, out of direct sunlight.
- Loosen clothing.
- Remove any sweaty clothing.
- Apply cool, wet towels to the face, neck, chest, and limbs.
- Apply ice, if you have it, to the underarms, wrists, and groin.
- Fan the person’s skin.
- Offer cool water or sports drinks every 15 minutes if the person is conscious.
We need volunteers!
Do you know anyone passionate about helping their neighbor who loves the sounds of sirens? If so, we are accepting applications for more volunteers to join our department. Submit an application. An application can be obtained from the Application page.
