Prevent Heat-Related Illnesses This Summer

Public health officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) advise employers, local health departments, emergency managers, and residents to take precautions to protect their employees, constituents, pets, and themselves from heat-related illness as temperatures across the state rise.

Public health officials with the NCDHHS are advising employers, local health departments, emergency managers, and residents to take precautions in order to protect their employees, constituents, pets, and themselves from heat-related illness as temperatures across the state rise.

Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to dehydration, overheating, heat illness, or even death. The North Carolina Heat Report shows there were 1,042 emergency department visits for heat-related illness from May 1 to July 10. The most frequent heat-related diagnosis is for heat exhaustion. Visits to emergency departments frequently
increase in correlation with spikes in the Heat Index. It is important to pay attention to the weather if spending time outside as working and recreation outdoors are common activities that precede heat-related illness in high temperatures.

"Heat exhaustion and other illnesses are serious, and this is the time of year we start to see heat-related hospitalizations rise," said State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, M.D., MPH. "Be aware of the risks, pay attention to how you are feeling when you are outside, and take steps to protect yourself."

Patients presenting at emergency departments with heat-related illnesses are mostly male, ages 45 to 64. Common activities noted in emergency department visits were working outdoors and recreation. The number of emergency department visits for heat-related illnesses this year is similar to the summer of 2020.

Symptoms of heat-related illness include muscle cramps, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, fainting, headaches, nausea and vomiting. Children, adults over 65, people without access to air conditioning, and those with chronic health conditions are most vulnerable.

To reduce the risk of heat-related illness:

• Increase fluid intake
• Take breaks in an air-conditioned shelter frequently if spending extended time outside
• Reduce normal activity levels
• Speak with your physician about how to stay safe if you take medicines that make you more vulnerable to heat, such as drugs for high blood pressure, migraines, allergies, muscle spasms, mental illness, and tranquilizers
• Check on neighbors, and if working outdoors, check on your co-workers
• Never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles, especially during warm or hot weather, as temperature levels inside a car can reach a lethal level in a matter of minutes

High heat days may also be poor air quality days that can increase the threat to those living with chronic health conditions, older adults and children. Air quality information can be found online.

If you or someone you know experiences heat-related illness, move to a cool place, drink water, place cold cloths on the body and seek medical attention.