Recent News
Extreme Heat: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety
June 22, 2009
Heat-related deaths and illness are preventable yet annually many people succumb to extreme heat. Historically, from 1979-2003, excessive heat exposure caused 8,015 deaths in the United States. During this period, more people in this country died from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined. In 2001, 300 deaths were caused by excessive heat exposure.
People suffer heat-related illness when their bodies are unable to compensate and properly cool themselves. The body normally cools itself by sweating. But under some conditions, sweating just isn't enough. In such cases, a person's body temperature rises rapidly. Very high body temperatures may damage the brain or other vital organs.
Several
factors affect the body's ability to cool itself during extremely
hot weather. When the humidity is high, sweat will not evaporate as
quickly, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly. Other
conditions related to risk include age, obesity, fever, dehydration,
heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and
prescription drug and alcohol use.
Because heat-related deaths are preventable, people need to be aware of who is at greatest risk and what actions can be taken to prevent a heat-related illness or death. The elderly, the very young, and people with mental illness and chronic diseases are at highest risk. However, even young and healthy individuals can succumb to heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather. Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death. If a home is not air-conditioned, people can reduce their risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned.
Summertime activity, whether on the playing field or the construction site, must be balanced with measures that aid the body's cooling mechanisms and prevent heat-related illness. This pamphlet tells how you can prevent, recognize, and cope with heat-related health problems.
What Is Extreme Heat?
Temperatures that hover 10 degrees or more above the average high temperature for the region and last for several weeks are defined as extreme heat. Humid or muggy conditions, which add to the discomfort of high temperatures, occur when a "dome" of high atmospheric pressure traps hazy, damp air near the ground. Excessively dry and hot conditions can provoke dust storms and low visibility. Droughts occur when a long period passes without substantial rainfall. A heat wave combined with a drought is a very dangerous situation.
During Hot Weather
To
protect your health when temperatures are extremely high, remember
to keep cool and use common sense. The following tips are important:
Drink Plenty of Fluids
During hot weather you will need to increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. During heavy exercise in a hot environment, drink two to four glasses (16-32 ounces) of cool fluids each hour.
Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
Don't drink liquids that contain alcohol, or large amounts of sugar—these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
Replace Salt and Minerals
Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body. These are necessary for your body and must be replaced. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, non-alcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. However, if you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.
Wear Appropriate Clothing and Sunscreen
Wear as little clothing as possible when you are at home. Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool itself and causes a loss of body fluids. It also causes pain and damages the skin. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) along with sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say "broad spectrum" or "UVA/UVB protection" on their labels) 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions.
Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully
If
you must be outdoors, try to limit your outdoor activity to morning
and evening hours. Try to rest often in shady areas so that your
body's thermostat will have a chance to recover.
Pace Yourself
If you are not accustomed to working or exercising in a hot environment, start slowly and pick up the pace gradually. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or at least into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak, or faint.
Stay Cool Indoors
Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library—even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area. Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.
Use a Buddy System
When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.
Monitor Those at High Risk
Although any one at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others.
-
Infants
and children up to four years of age are sensitive to the
effects of high temperatures and rely on others to regulate
their environments and provide adequate liquids.
- People 65 years of age or older may not compensate for heat
stress efficiently and are less likely to sense and respond to
change in temperature.
- People who are overweight may be prone to heat sickness
because of their tendency to retain more body heat.
- People who overexert during work or exercise may become
dehydrated and susceptible to heat sickness.
- People who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure, or who take certain medications, such as for depression, insomnia, or poor circulation, may be affected by extreme heat.
Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.
Adjust to the Environment
Be aware that any sudden change in temperature, such as an early summer heat wave, will be stressful to your body. You will have a greater tolerance for heat if you limit your physical activity until you become accustomed to the heat. If you travel to a hotter climate, allow several days to become acclimated before attempting any vigorous exercise, and work up to it gradually.
Do Not Leave Children in Cars
Even in cool temperatures, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. Even with the windows cracked open, interior temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes. Anyone left inside is at risk for serious heat-related illnesses or even death. Children who are left unattended in parked cars are at greatest risk for heat stroke, and possibly death. When traveling with children, remember to do the following:
- Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.
- To remind yourself that a child is in the car, keep a stuffed animal in the car seat. When the child is buckled in, place the stuffed animal in the front with the driver.
- When leaving your car, check to be sure everyone is out of the car. Do not overlook any children who have fallen asleep in the car.
Use Common Sense
Remember to keep cool and use common sense:
- Avoid hot foods and heavy meals—they add heat to your body.
- Drink plenty of fluids and replace salts and minerals in your body. Do not take salt tablets unless under medical supervision.
- Dress infants and children in cool, loose clothing and shade their heads and faces with hats or an umbrella.
- Limit sun exposure during mid-day hours and in places of potential severe exposure such as beaches.
- Do not leave infants, children, or pets in a parked car.
- Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets, and leave the water in a shady area.
Hot Weather Health Emergencies
Even
short periods of high temperatures can cause serious health
problems. Doing too much on a hot day, spending too much time in the
sun or staying too long in an overheated place can cause
heat-related illnesses. Know the symptoms of heat disorders and
overexposure to the sun, and be ready to give first aid treatment.
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature. The body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.
Recognizing Heat Stroke
Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include the following:
- An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F, orally)
- Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
- Rapid, strong pulse
- Throbbing headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Unconsciousness
What to Do
If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the victim. Do the following:
- Get the victim to a shady area.
- Cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
- Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.
- If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
- Do not give the victim fluids to drink.
- Get medical assistance as soon as possible.
Sometimes a victim's muscles will begin to twitch uncontrollably as a result of heat stroke. If this happens, keep the victim from injuring himself, but do not place any object in the mouth and do not give fluids. If there is vomiting, make sure the airway remains open by turning the victim on his or her side.
Heat Exhaustion
Heat
exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop
after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate
or unbalanced replacement of fluids. It is the body's response to an
excessive loss of the water and salt contained in sweat. Those most
prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood
pressure, and people working or exercising in a hot environment.
Recognizing Heat Exhaustion
Warning signs of heat exhaustion include the following:
- Heavy sweating
- Paleness
- Muscle cramps
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fainting
The skin may be cool and moist. The victim's pulse rate will be fast and weak, and breathing will be fast and shallow. If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention immediately if any of the following occurs:
- Symptoms are severe
- The victim has heart problems or high blood pressure
Otherwise, help the victim to cool off, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than 1 hour.
What to Do
Cooling measures that may be effective include the following:
- Cool, nonalcoholic beverages
- Rest
- Cool shower, bath, or sponge bath
- An air-conditioned environment
- Lightweight clothing
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps usually affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body's salt and moisture. The low salt level in the muscles may be the cause of heat cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.
Recognizing Heat Cramps
Heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms—usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs—that may occur in association with strenuous activity. If you have heart problems or are on a low-sodium diet, get medical attention for heat cramps.
What to Do
If medical attention is not necessary, take these steps:
- Stop all activity, and sit quietly in a cool place.
- Drink clear juice or a sports beverage.
- Do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps subside, because further exertion may lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Seek medical attention for heat cramps if they do not subside in 1 hour.
Sunburn
Sunburn
should be avoided because it damages the skin. Although the
discomfort is usually minor and healing often occurs in about a
week, a more severe sunburn may require medical attention.
Recognizing Sunburn
Symptoms of sunburn are well known: the skin becomes red, painful, and abnormally warm after sun exposure.
What to Do
Consult a doctor if the sunburn affects an infant younger than 1 year of age or if these symptoms are present:
- Fever
- Fluid-filled blisters
- Severe pain
Also, remember these tips when treating sunburn:
- Avoid repeated sun exposure.
- Apply cold compresses or immerse the sunburned area in cool water.
- Apply moisturizing lotion to affected areas. Do not use salve, butter, or ointment.
- Do not break blisters.
Heat Rash
Heat
rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating during hot,
humid weather. It can occur at any age but is most common in young
children.
Recognizing Heat Rash
Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters. It is more likely to occur on the neck and upper chest, in the groin, under the breasts, and in elbow creases.
What to Do
The best treatment for heat rash is to provide a cooler, less humid environment. Keep the affected area dry. Dusting powder may be used to increase comfort.
Treating heat rash is simple and usually does not require medical assistance. Other heat-related problems can be much more severe.
This information provided by NCEH's Health Studies Branch.
Firework Safety
June 22, 2009
Going beyond the usual warning that kids shouldn't play with fireworks, this year six prominent health and fire safety advocates, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Ophthalmology, and National Fire Protection Association, are calling for a ban on consumer fireworks.Last year, about 8,800 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with fireworks, with over half the injuries being burns to the hands, eyes, and head.
In addition to burns and permanent blindness, about 12 people died from fires associated with fireworks in 1999 (the last year that statistics were reported). Also, there were nearly 24,200 fires associated with fireworks use that year.
Although most people think that most of the risk is to younger children, the highest injury rates are usually among teens.
As the 4th of July approaches, remember that there are no safe fireworks and no absolutely safe way for kids and teens to handle fireworks.
Instead of letting your kids play with fireworks, make plans to attend a public fireworks display, conducted by trained professionals, and watch the fireworks at a safe distance.
If fireworks are legal where you live and you decide to set them off on your own, be sure to follow these important safety tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
- Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks
- Read and follow all warnings and instructions
- Be sure other people are out of range before lighting
fireworks.
- Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the
house, dry leaves, and flammable materials.
- Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully
functioned.
- Keep a bucket of water in case of a malfunction or fire.
Home Security
June 4th, 2009
Planning a vacation? Invest some time to review your home's security and to make improvements that will keep it from being vulnerable to break-ins. Before you leave on a vacation, walk around the perimeter of your home and objectively evaluate its vulnerability. Try to look at it the way a burglar would and make changes well before you leave town.
Turn Up the Lights
- Put bright lights over porches and walkways in the front and back.
Lock It Up
- All doors to the outside should have working locks.
- Garage and shed doors need working locks too.
- All windows should have working locks.
- Keep all doors to the outside, sliding doors, and windows locked.
Be Able to Get Out
- Make sure everyone can open all locks from inside your home.
- Don't have deadbolt locks that lock with an inside key. You need to get out fast if a fire starts. A missing key could trap you inside.
- Replace inside-key locks with deadbolt locks that have a “thumb turn” instead of an indoor key.
- Make sure everyone in your family can reach the “thumb turn” latch.
- Have window locks that open from inside. Do not nail windows shut. Make sure they open easily.
- If you have security bars on doors and windows, have a “quick-release” latch. This makes it easy to get outside in an emergency.
- Make sure everyone in your family knows how to use the latch.
Don't Help Intruders
- Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed under windows so burglars can't hide.
- Keep ladders stored in a locked shed or garage so they can't be used to climb into your home.
- Keep shades or curtains closed over garage and shed windows.
- Keep shades or curtains closed over your home windows after dark.
- Don't leave toys, tools and equipment in the yard.
When You're Gone a Few Days
- Make your home look like someone is there.
- Do yard work before you leave.
- Have a family member or friend bring in your mail and newspaper while you are gone.
This information comes from the Home Safety Council
Home Fire Sprinklers
March 27, 2009
|
Properly installed and maintained automatic fire sprinkler systems help save lives. Because fire sprinkler systems react so quickly, they can dramatically reduce the heat, flames and smoke produced in a fire. Fire sprinklers have been around for more than a century, protecting commercial and industrial properties and public buildings, such as hotels and hospitals and high-rises. What most people don't realize is that the same life-saving technology that protects these buildings is also available for homes, where 80 percent of all fire deaths occur.
|
- When sprinklers are present, the chances of dying in a fire are reduced by one-half to three-fourths and the average property loss per fire is cut by one-half to two-thirds, compared to fires where sprinklers are not present.
- Sprinklers typically reduce the chances of dying in a home fire by one half to two thirds in any kind of property where they are used. Together with smoke alarms, sprinklers cut the risk of dying in a home fire 82 percent, relative to having neither.
- NFPA has no record of a fire killing more than two people in a completely sprinklered public assembly, educational, institutional or residential building where the system was working properly.
- Sprinklers are highly reliable. When present in the fire area, they operate in all but 7% of fires large enough to activate the system. Human error was a factor in almost all of the failures. The system was shut-off in almost two-thirds of the failures.
- Only one or two sprinkler heads were activated in 81% of the fires with wet pipe sprinkler systems operating and in 56% of the fires with dry pipe systems operating.
Source: NFPA's "U.S. Experience with Sprinklers and Other Fire Extinguishing Equipment " report by John R. Hall, Jr., January 2009.
For more information contact Fire Marshal Kilb at (636) 285-3345
or visit: www.nfpa.com and www.homefiresprinkler.org
Lawn & Garden Home Safety Tips
March 27, 2009
As the weather becomes warmer and days are longer, we spend as much time as we can outdoors enjoying our backyards. Many of us tackle do-it-yourself projects and others are happy just being outside. But, to be safe, it is important to remember the following safety tips when frolicking in the yard, especially if you have children:
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
For more information go to www.homesafetycouncil.org
List of Events
Get Involved Today!
Local Scanner Broadcast
Mission Statement
The Mission of the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District is to Protect
Life and Property From Fire and Other Emergencies Within the Community, Through Public Education, Code Management, and Incident
Response.
(636) 285-3345
E-Mail:
We Are Proud Members Of:
International Association of Fire Chiefs
Jefferson County Fire Marshals Assn
Backstoppers
International Assn of Arson Investigators
International Association of Firefighters
National Fire Protection Association
International Code Council
Professional Fire & Fraud Investigators Association
International Assn of Electrical Inspectors
Metro Chiefs Association
Jefferson County FRTA
Tri-County Training Consortium
Jefferson County Fire Protection Districts Association
Jefferson County Emergency Services
Jefferson County LEPC
Jefferson County Fire Investigators Team