Got heat exhaustion? Get help!

It’s a hot summer day and your family has been at the lake for hours. Your child walks up to you grabbing their stomach and complains of nausea, has slurred speech, looks pale, and clammy. You grab ice cold water and douse your little one right away, thinking to yourself, do they have heat exhaustion?

If this has happened to you, we at NOAH recommend a strategy to help reduce your risk and provide useful tips to combat the onset of heat exhaustion before it’s too late and heat stroke sets in.

Beat the heat-recommended strategies:

1. Get out of the direct sun and into an air-conditioned room. If you can’t get inside, try to find the nearest cool and shady place.

2. REST, lay on your back with legs elevated higher than heart level.

3. Drink plenty of fluid, cold water or sports drinks containing salt and sugar are preferred (avoid caffeine and alcohol).

4. Remove any tight or unnecessary clothing.

5. Take a cool shower, bath or sponge bath.

6. Apply other cooling measures such as fans or towels soaked in cool water/ice on your skin.

7. After 15 minutes, you should notice relief. If these measures fail, there is any worsening, or you are not able to take fluids, seek emergency medical help. Untreated heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke. Once your body fully recovers, you may be more sensitive to high temperatures during the following week. So it’s best to avoid hot weather and heavy exercise until you have been given the ‘thumbs up’ from your doctor that it’s safe to resume your normal activities.

Our Care Team at NOAH are here to help you create and manage your healthy lifestyle habits. Need help setting or sticking to your goals? Call 480-882-4545 or request an appointment here today! #nutrition #gethealthy #summer #familypractice