High temperatures bring health warnings to San Francisco residents

While there wasn’t much of a summer to speak of, the next few days promise to make up for the recent cold weather residents have had to endure. With temperatures pushing toward the 90s, things are going to heat up before they cool down. With a sudden spike in temperature comes heat related health problems. Heat waves cause severe health issues and preparation is the key to riding out the upward thermal trend or temperature change. That’s fancy writer talk for hot and sticky weather!

The biggest killer during heat waves is heat stroke. While most Bay Area residents have been bundling up to combat the cold weather, this new turn of rising temperatures is forcing layers off and air conditioners on. However, most people have to venture out of the house and this is where the trouble starts. The biggest problem with suddenly hot weather is heat stroke.

Heat stroke is a form of hypothermia. Unlike heat exhaustion, heat stroke can be fatal. The human body generates heat as part of the processes of metabolism. This heat is dissipated by the radiation of built up heat, through the skin or by sweating. However, when temperatures become extremely high or the body is under physical stress from working outside under an unforgiving sun, the body has trouble dissipating the built up heat. The body’s core temperature starts to rise until it reaches dangerous levels. Heat dissipation comes to a crashing halt and the body and brain cooks.

Dehydration is another cause of heat stroke. The body doesn’t get enough fluid, so the dehydrated individual cannot sweat fast enough to dissipate the internal heat. While heat stroke is primarily a killer of the elderly and very young, everyone who doesn’t take precautions is a candidate.

While common sense is the watch word during heat waves, some people need a kind reminder of how to avoid this dangerous and potentially lethal problem. Drink lots of fluids, namely water. Avoid caffeinated beverages. While an ice coffee seems the ideal beverage for a hot afternoon, especially when falling asleep at the job, the caffeine in coffee can create problems with your core metabolism. The holds true for sugar laced beverages and alcohol. Yes, beer tastes wonderful on a hot day but it will create more problems than it’s worth.

Then there are children and pets. Every year countless children and pets die from heat related issues due to being left in cars too long. Your car can get up to 130 degrees on a hot day. Do not leave children or pets in a closed car on hot days, even with the windows partially rolled down. Cracking the window a few inches will not lower the temperature to safe levels. Keep children, and especially pets, hydrated by keeping lots of water around.

Here are a few tips for keeping cool. Freeze plastic bottles with water in them. When it’s hot, take your shoes and socks off and place the bottle under your feet. You’ll feel the relief instantly. Fill up your refrigerator with bottled water. Take one with you everywhere you go. Drink 8-to-10 glasses of water during the day. Have a cool glass of water before bed. This will help cool you down before you hit the sheets. Rinse your hair with cold water for a quick and refreshing break from the heat. If you don’t have air conditioning, most cities have cooling stations which provide an air conditioned environment during the hottest parts of the day. Call local police and fire departments for locations. If you start to feel overheated and cannot cool down, call your doctor or 911. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

In the words of Mark Twain, “the coldest winter I spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Think about these words over the next few steamy days. You wouldn’t know it today, but fall is just around the corner.