The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for areas of Southeastern Pennsylvania, so the personal injury attorneys at Messa & Associates would like to share some important information regarding safety in this heat! We’ve compiled a list of tips from the American Red Cross to help keep you and yours safe this summer.
1.NEVER leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
The temperature inside your vehicle can rise almost 20 degrees in less than 10 minutes. After an hour, the temperature inside the vehicle can be over 40 degrees hotter than the temperature outside. On a 70 degree day, that’s 110 degrees inside the car! Since 1998, 647 children have died in the United States due to heat stroke after being left in a car – that’s an average of 37 children each year. Take your children and your pets with you whenever you leave your car. Five minutes in the store can easily turn into 25 minutes and the consequences could be dire.
2. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
When our body temperature rises, we begin to sweat to cool off. Without proper hydration, our bodies can not sweat and therefore cannot reduce our body’s temperature. This puts us at serious risk for heat stroke. When dealing with excessive heat, remember to stay well hydrated.
3. Slow down, stay indoors, and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
Keep yourself, your family, and your pets inside and away from the intense heat during the hottest parts of the day and make sure to postpone outdoor games and activities until after the weather cools down.
4. Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat, taking frequent breaks to cool down and hydrate.
If you have a job that requires great exertion outside during the hottest parts of the day, make sure to buddy-up with a co-worker and relieve each other for frequent breaks to rest and re-hydrate. On these dangerously hot days, your safety is more important than a completion date or timeline.
5. Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
Because the heat slows us down and makes us tired and inactive, it is easy for some people to forget to take care of themselves. If you have neighbors or family members that need to be reminded of certain safety precautions in the heat, make sure to remind them! It could be the difference between life and death.
Heatwaves can bring about three different conditions – it is important to know how to spot them and how to respond.
- Heat Cramps – Muscular pains and spasms that generally occur in the legs and/or abdomen. These are an early sign that the body is overheating. It is important to get the person to a cool place. Stretch and massage the affected muscle and provide electrolytes such as sports drinks, fruit juice, or milk. DO NOT let the person ingest salt.
- Heat Exhaustion – Heat exhaustion is a more serious condition than heat cramps and tends to affect those who work for extended periods of time in the heat, like athletes, firefighters, construction workers, and factory workers. Signs of heat exhaustion include moist, pale, or flushed skin; headache; nausea; dizziness; weakness; and exhaustion. Like with heat cramps, it is important to get the person to a cool place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet compresses to the skin. Spray the person with cool water. If conscious, the person should be given sips of electrolyte beverages like sports drinks, milk, water, or juice. If the person vomits or loses consciousness, call 9-1-1 immediately.
- Heat Stroke is a life threatening condition that generally occurs after ignoring all of the symptoms of heat exhaustion. Heat stroke occurs after the body is overcome by heat and its functions begin to fail. Signs and symptoms include extremely high body temperatures, red skin that is dry or moist, rapid and weak pulse, shallow breathing, confusion, vomiting, and/or seizures. Heat stroke comes on fast and requires immediate attention. If you recognize any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. While waiting for rescue efforts to arrive, rapidly cool the body. Methods include immersing the person’s body up to the neck in cold water, sponging the person with ice-water doused towels, or covering the person with bags of ice.
Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys
Everyone loves the summertime. It means picnics, swimming, beach days, fresh fruits and vegetables, vacations, and extra time with family. But the summer is not without it’s dangers. It is imperative to be knowledgeable and smart when it comes to safety under the sun. The Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Messa & Associates hope that you and your loved ones stay cool and hydrated during the hot and dangerous summer months.
If you have experienced a personal injury due to the negligence of another, do not hesitate to call a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer toll-free at 877-MessaLaw. You can also submit a free online inquiry to obtain a free case evaluation.
