GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – As projected temperatures for this upcoming weekend reach into the 90’s, it’s important to take measures to keep yourself cool.
The joke that Wisconsinites can’t handle heat isn’t just a gentle rib, it can actually become a health issue for some.
“Understand that we haven’t had all that much warm weather. We’re a bunch of northerners and we’re going to get hot quickly…It’s so early in the season, we haven’t had time to what we call acclimatize, which is getting used to warmer temperatures. So your body is not set up to deal with warmer temperatures right away like someone who lives in Arizona is,” said Dr. Michael DeFrank, an emergency medicine physician at HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center in Green Bay. “Realize that you haven’t had a long time to acclimatize to the warmer weather so you’re going to get warmer faster or not feel well faster…Wear clothing that breathes. Something with UV protection, because if you get sunburned, then you lose more ability to combat the heat. And obviously stay hydrated.”
If you’re out in the sun, whether you’re enjoying a day out on the water or working to freshen up your landscaping, DeFrank says to use common sense if you start feeling a bit off.
“Heat exhaustion is when you don’t feel and start to experience some of the warning signs such as chills or having nausea or lightheadedness or cramps in your muscles. Those are warning signs that it’s time to drink some fluids and get out of the sunshine,” DeFrank told WTAQ News. “Obviously, you want to get out of the sunshine first and foremost and hydrate yourself. Then keep an eye on your body temperature. If your body temperature is still significantly elevated and not going down, it’s time to seek some emergency care.”
Hydrating means water and other similar fluids. Alcohol actually removes more fluid from your body than what you take in from it. Many medications that are commonly taken by prescription for things like depression or blood pressure can also diminish some response to combating warmer temperatures.
If you’re not feeling well and the symptoms progressively get worse, it might be a heat stroke.
“Heat stroke itself is actually the failure of your body’s ability to cool itself down anymore. So it’s complete loss of what we call thermal regulation…when you start to really not feel well and you’re kind of out of it. That’s actually an emergency that you need to come to the hospital for,” DeFrank advised.
Someone suffering from a heat stroke will be clearly in distress with symptoms like nausea, a prickly heat feeling, chills, and excessive sweating. If that happens, it’s time to sit down and hydrate, and to get something salty as your sodium levels are also likely low. If that’s not working, a trip to the hospital is recommended. A hospital situation would get you re-hydrated, IV’d, and even mist fans may be utilized.
For more information about heat-related illnesses and potential symptoms, head to the CDC’s website.
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