Extreme heat can be a killer!

No one has to tell you that it’s hot outside.

You step outdoors and you feel the “warm hug” of summer.

We all spend some part of our day outside, whether we work outdoors or only walk to and from the house to the mailbox, car or office. So, we all get “exposed” to the South Texas extreme heat, especially during the summer months.

Exposure to high environmental temperatures produces stress on the body. The stress, combined with the effects caused by work, dehydration and fatigue may lead to serious heat-related disorders.

Did you know that you can die from the heat, if you are not careful?

Heat is the number one weather-related killer in this country, claiming about 1,500 lives every year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

As the South Texas temperatures continue to rise this summer, so does the chance of heat-related injuries and death.

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body can’t effectively cool itself. It’s caused by fluid loss from profuse sweating without enough fluid replacement. The person will often get a headache, feel weak and tired, look pale with cool moist skin, and be nauseous.

Treat heat exhaustion by getting victims to a cool, shady location. Give them water to drink and have them lay down. They should be given medical attention to ensure they are properly recovering and rehydrating.

Heat stroke is more serious. It’s caused when the body’s temperature regulating system fails and the body stops sweating. There is an increase in internal body temperature because the body can no longer evaporate heat.

People with heat stroke become dizzy and nauseous, and get headaches. Their skin is red and hot to the touch. This rapidly leads to delirium, loss of consciousness, coma and death.

Treat heat stroke by quickly getting the victims to a cool shaded, soaking their clothes with cool water and fanning them to help increase the cooling. Medical treatment must be obtained quickly to avoid damage to internal organs or the brink, or death will result.

If we think it’s hot now, wait until late July and August. As temperatures rise, humidity climbs and people get drenched in sweat.

So, pay attention to what your body is telling you, drink plenty of water, and use common sense when planning outdoor activities.