Wyandotte Doctor: Stay Cool to Beat Heat Illness

Summer is the time to make memories of sunshine, barbecues and dips in the lake. But as the temperatures rise, so does the risk of heat illness. Here are some tips to help you manage the heat.

If the temperature is above 70 degrees and the humidity is above 70 percent, your body’s cooling system doesn’t work as well. This increases the dangers of dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

“Now is an important time of the year to be sure we’re drinking enough water and paying attention to our bodies to prevent a heat-related illness, dehydration being the most common,” says Dr. Thomas McKeown, medical director of the Department of Emergency Medicine at .

Stomach, arm and leg cramps are often the first sign of heat illness, followed by thirst, fatigue and weakness. If you have any of these signs, stop your current activity, drink water and remove yourself from the sun to a shaded area. If within 30 minutes you don’t feel better, call your doctor or seek medical attention.

Seek immediate help if you or a family member has the following symptoms:

• Skin that’s hot and dry but not sweating
• Confusion
• Fainting
• Vomiting
• Trouble breathing

Dr. Thomas McKeown is the medical director of the Department of Emergency Medicine at .