Don't Mess Around With the Heat!

The heat this week is nothing to mess around with.  As real temps soar beyond 100 degrees and heat indices up to 110 degrees, an Excessive Heat Warning was issued for Tuesday and Wednesday this week by the National Weather Service.

 

GRMC has a cooling station open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day this week. All are welcome to seek relief from the heat in our cafeteria and have complimentary water, iced tea, and yes, even coffee if you so desire.

Iowa Department of Public Health offers this information about heat-related illness. Although anyone at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, those at greatest risk include:

• People age 65 and older
• Infants and young children
• Overweight individuals
• People who are performing manual labor or exercising outdoors
• People who have a chronic illness, especially those with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as those for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation.
• Even young and healthy individuals can have a heat-related illness if they are very active during hot weather or if the heat index is very high.

  To protect your health when temperatures and humidity are high, remember to keep cool and use common sense.

• Increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level.
• If you are experiencing a lot of sweating, replace salt and minerals by eating foods like bananas and salty crackers, or drink rehydrating beverages that contain salts, such as sports drinks.
• Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and wear sunscreen.
• Wear hats that shade your face.
• Keep in the shade or in air-conditioning as much as possible.
• Work slowly if you are not used to working or exercising in heat and humidity. Stop immediately if you get dizzy, nauseated, or feel weak. Go into an air-conditioned space and drink cool liquids.
• Use a buddy system. Watch others for heat-induced illness, since some people may not realize they are suffering heat-related illnesses and can become confused or lose consciousness. 

·    For more information, click on the following: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/IdphNews/Reader.aspx?id=2BAF34BB-B3A3-495E-9656-501F8057665B

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp