OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City Indian Clinic (OKCIC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit clinic providing health and wellness services to American Indians in central Oklahoma, wants to remind Oklahomans to stay safe during this Summer’s extreme heat conditions.
Living in Oklahoma during the late spring and summertime, means facing intense heat conditions that can sometimes reach dangerous and even deadly temperatures. Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, and an estimated 618 people in the United States are killed by extreme heat every year.
It is important to know how to protect yourself and others from the impacts of heat waves. Extreme heat can lead to dangerous heat-related illnesses, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. These illnesses happen when the body is not able to properly cool itself.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the body is supposed to cool itself off by sweating. However, in cases of extreme heat, sweat will not evaporate as quickly, preventing the body from releasing heat quickly.
Personal factors such as age, weight, dehydration, heart disease, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use can also play a role in whether a person can cool off enough in very hot weather.
“People must balance their summertime activity with actions that help the body cool itself,” Robyn Sunday-Allen said, CEO of OKCIC. “It is important that everyone understands the signs of heat illness, and should even take time to check on the elderly, friends, family and neighbors during these conditions to ensure their health and safety.”
Limit outdoor activity.
If you like to exercise or even just like being outdoors, it is important to limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. You must start slowly and then gradually pick up your pace. However, if you are exercising in extreme heat and you are left gasping for breath, immediately stop all activity, let someone know where you are, and get into a shaded and cool area to rest. In addition, it is important to protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen with a SPF of 30 or higher.
Never leave kids or pets unattended in a hot vehicle.
As a reminder, the temperature in a car can be deadly during extreme heat. The temperature inside a car can rise 20 degrees Fahrenheit in just 10 minutes, so leaving a window open is not enough. Children who are left unattended in the heat and in parked cars are highly at risk for heat stroke, and sometimes even death. To avoid any heat illnesses, dress children in loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing. It is also important that they drink lots of fluids.
Check up on the elderly, sick and those without AC.
People aged 65 years or older are more at risk to encounter heat-related health problems. Prevent these illnesses by checking up on people in the community during periods of extreme heat. A/C is important to have in conditions of intense heat. If someone is without A/C, offer to drive them to an air-conditioned location or a safer environment. Also, consider carrying extra bottles of water and other supplies in case others are in need of them.
About Oklahoma City Indian Clinic
Oklahoma City Indian Clinic was established in 1974 to provide excellent health care and wellness services to American Indians in central Oklahoma. The clinic staff cares for more than 18,000 patients from more than 200 federally recognized tribes every year. American Indians can receive a range of services, including medical, dental, pediatrics, prenatal, pharmacy, optometry, physical fitness, nutrition, family programs and behavioral health services. For more information, please visit www.okcic.com.