If you are one of those who have turned your backs from using air conditioning units to save on your electric bill, you will know how nice it feels to stay in the shower or soak in the tub for as long as you can but even then, the bathroom seems to get hotter as the sun goes higher in the sky.
Being out in the extreme heat during the day under the CNMI skies is “murder” especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. according to Dr. DeLinda Wills, a surgeon who operates an aesthetic clinic on Saipan,
Getting sick from heat-related illnesses is not impossible with a weather as warm as the CNMI, Wills said, but this can be prevented.
From 1995 to 2010, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s national weather service website www.weather.gov reported a total of 3,116 deaths from heat-related causes across the United States, including the 1,021 deaths reported in July 1995 due to the heat wave disaster in Chicago and Milwaukee. Last year’s statistics included 138 deaths.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the best defense against heat-related illnesses is prevention such as “staying cool, making changes in your fluid intake and activities, and using proper clothing during the hot weather.”
Hot tips to prevent heat-related illnesses
• Drink plenty of nonalcoholic fluids without waiting until you get thirsty. As much as possible, avoid cold drinks because they can only cause stomach cramps.
• Wear appropriate clothing such as loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored garments.
• If possible, stay indoors in a cool or air-conditioned place. If you’re saving electricity at home, you can stay in cool public places such as the library, malls, stores and other places.
• Take a shower or bath to cool off.
Don’t stay inside or leave anyone especially children in a closed, parked car.
If you need to be out under the heat, you can still prevent getting too much exposure from the sun and prevent heat-related illnesses by limiting your activities outside to the early morning hours or during the late afternoon or evening hours.
Rest in shady areas, and protect yourself by wearing sunglasses, appropriate clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.
• Avoid hot foods and heavy meals because they add heat to your body.
Risk factors
Anybody can be at risk of suffering from any heat-related illness but some people are more at risk than others including infants and children, elderly people aged 65 and up, people who are suffering from mental illness and those who are suffering from physical illnesses such as high blood pressure or heart diseases.
The CDC says that people who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness because their bodies tend to retain more body heat.
Heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, exhaustion, and other illnesses are preventable but many people succumb to extreme heat each year.
Don’t add to the statistics. Be informed of the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and have knowledge on how to give first aid treatment to respond to emergencies, and enjoy the summer without putting your life and the lives of your loved ones at risk.
