Soaring temperatures and high humidity aren’t just uncomfortable – they can be dangerous. With a heat wave coming this weekend, here are tips to help you stay safe.

Watch the heat index and weather alerts.

For planning your day, it helps to know just how extreme the hot weather is. In addition to the temperature, check the National Weather Service (NWS) heat index. It’s a measure of how the temperature feels to the human body. The heat index considers both relative humidity and air temperature.

Weather forecasts also often include a “feels like” temperature, which considers additional factors such as winds and cloudiness.

NWS issues advisories for high heat. They are:

• Excessive heat watch – Conditions are favorable for excessive heat.
  
  
• Excessive heat advisory – Excessive heat is expected. An advisory is for conditions that can cause significant discomfort or inconvenience and could be life-threatening if you don’t take precautions.
  
  
• Excessive heat warning – A warning indicates that a more serious heat event, posing a significant threat to life, is expected.

Stay hydrated.

Drink plenty of water. Carry a water bottle and refill it throughout the day. And don’t wait until you are thirsty to start drinking water – by that point, you’re probably already beginning to get dehydrated.

Limit beverages high in sugars and sodium, caffeine and alcohol.

Keep cool.

Although indoor fans can help when the inside temperature is below 90 degrees, they can actually increase your body temperature when it’s hotter than that. The American Red Cross recommends:

• Dressing for hot weather. Wear lightweight, loose clothing in light colors.

• Taking a cool shower or bath.

• Spending a few hours each day in air conditioning. If you don’t have air conditioning, find a public place such as a shopping mall. You also can call 211 to find a cooling center near you.

Seek shade.

Plan outdoor activities for early morning or evening when the sun is less direct. If you must be outside, stay in the shade as much as possible. If you’re active outside, take breaks – and drink water.

Check on others.

When it’s extremely hot, check in on your neighbors, particularly older adults and those with chronic conditions, to see if they’re OK. And remember your pets – make sure they have plenty of water and ways to cool down. Pets can get heat stroke, too.

Know the signs of heat illness and get medical treatment when needed.

The three kinds of heat illness are heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat cramps.

• Heat stroke – People experiencing heat stroke need immediate medical assistance – call 911.
  
  Heat stroke is life-threatening. Symptoms include a body temperature of 103 degrees or higher; red, hot, dry, damp skin; rapid, strong pulse; headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and loss of consciousness.
  
  While you are waiting for emergency responders, cool the person by any means possible, such as cool cloths or water from a garden hose. Move the person to a cool place.
  
  
• Heat exhaustion – Call 911 if the exhausted individual starts throwing up, if symptoms get worse or if they last for more than an hour.
  
  Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating; cold, pale and clammy skin; fast, weak pulse; muscle cramps; tiredness or weakness; dizziness; headache and nausea or vomiting.
  
  Move the exhausted person to a cool place, loosen their closing and have them sip water. Put cool, wet cloths on the person or have them take a cool bath.
  
  
• Heat cramps – The first sign of heat-related illness, heat cramps involve painful muscle cramps and spasms, along with heavy sweating.
  
  A person with heat cramps should rest, cool down and drink liquids such as apple juice or a sports drink with electrolytes.

Sources:
American Red Cross
National Weather Service
Ohio Department of Health