Heat-related hospital visits increase - people are urged to drink plenty of water

Posted 8/8/01

Heat-related hospital visits increase - people are urged to drink plenty of water

By MaryHelen Swanson

Leilani Freeman, spokesperson for Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center urges everyone to drink plenty of water - just plain water - or at least a sport-type drink to help get through this extreme heat.
Over last weekend nearly two dozen people were treated for heat-related conditions with about half being transported to medical facilities by Lakes Region Emergency Medical Services.

The other half came in on their own and were treated at the Emergency Department of Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center in Wyoming with nausea, headache and weakness - all symptoms of heat exhaustion. These patients ranged in age from young child to older folks and most had been either engaged in recreation activity or working outdoors.

Freeman described the differences between heat exhaustion and heat stroke, none of the latter were seen at the hospital

With heat exhaustion the patient may have all of the above symptoms with pale, damp skin.

With heat stroke, she said, the skin is red, hot and dry because of the high body temperature.

Dehydration is the biggest problem, she said.
In one of the cases over the weekend, she noted, a female patient had been out on a boat all day the day before and came in with a severe headache. She probably didnít realize how dehydrated she was, Freeman said.

In another case, a construction worker was losing fluids faster than he was putting them in his body.
ěPeople donít realize theyíre not getting enough fluids,î she said.

And, she went on, liquids such as beer, pop, and ice tea are not going to help, because the caffeine and alcohol only make it worse.

The best liquid she recommends is just plain water.
Sports drinks are also suitable, she said.
In this hot weather, people should check on older family members, friends and neighbors who often donít realize theyíre getting heated, she said.
And children, too, as they dehydrate rapidly due to their small size.

Freeman also noted that Fairview Medical Center in Wyoming opens its lobby - atrium to anyone in need of cooling off, especially people without air conditioning. The facility is open from 8 a.m.-8:30 p.m. and people are free to just come and sit and cool off.

Another note, East Central Energy is asking consumers to conserve energy, if at all possible, especially during the daytime hours, to help us all get through the current heat wave.