LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – With tomorrow’s forecast around 106 degrees and the official start of summer this week, health officials are urging people to take precautions against heat-related illnesses.
Heat illness can affect anyone, but some groups are more likely to get sick faster.
“Babies and toddlers in general have a risk of heat exhaustion and heat illness, heat syncope, about three to five times higher than that of an adult who is otherwise well,” said Dr. Dharshana Krishna, UMC pediatric emergency medicine physician.
The effects of heat illness can escalate quickly if someone does not cool down and rehydrate.
“And then that can progress more into heat syncope where they can lose their consciousness transiently and then for them to recover. And then we have the more heat exhaustion where you still have more altered mental status. They have difficulty waking up, excessive sweating, signs of dehydration,” Dr. Krishna said.
Dr. Krishna said when someone shows signs of heat exhaustion — dizziness, vomiting, loss of consciousness — get help immediately.
“Especially if you are vomiting or extremely sleepy, it may not be safe to do oral hydration at home. And those are the people that we’re expecting to see tomorrow,” Dr. Krishna said.
To avoid heat illness, staying hydrated is key. But Dr. Krishna said what people drink matters too, especially for children.
“We just warn parents that too sugary drinks can worsen signs of dehydration because they can be falsely active with the sugar. And the other thing is if they’re just drinking plain water without replenishing their electrolytes can also be dangerous because sometimes they can go into seizures if their electrolytes are off as well,” Dr. Krishna said.
“The main thing is stay cool and play it safe,” Dr. Krishna said.
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