The remaining days of June may be in the upper 80s, so while some may welcome the heat, others need to be wary of the dangers of heat exhaustion, and how valuable heat protection is to some.
Long hours in the sun can lead to heat exhaustion. When not treated properly, this condition can escalate to a more severe condition – heat stroke.
Dr. Jonathan Steinhofer, an emergency medical physician at Clarian Health, said heat exhaustion symptoms can include nausea and vomiting. Heat stroke symptoms include confusion, dizziness and can lead to coma.
“With heat stroke, the body loses its ability to acclimate to weather,” Dr. Steinhofer said. “Basically the body loses its ability to sweat.”
This is particularly dangerous to children and the elderly, who do not handle heat the way other age groups do.
“Kids produce more metabolic heat, so they get hotter, faster,” Dr. Steinhofer said. “The elderly could potentially be on different medications that may make them dehydrate more. They lose the ability to thermo regulate heat.”
However, there is also another group that may not have proper protection from the warm summer weather – the homeless.
Andrea De Mink is the executive director and founder of the Pourhouse, which focuses on aiding people experiencing homelessness and establishing relationships with the homeless population in Indianapolis.
Air conditioning, something some people take for granted, is a luxury that many homeless people do not have access to. This can make the summer heat extremely dangerous for people experiencing homelessness who do not have the proper necessities and remain outdoors.
“People get dehydrated because they don’t have access to clean water,” De Mink said. “Most people only own one pair of boots from the winter. In 95 degree weather if you’re wearing the same socks and boots for three days, it can create blisters and fungal infections.”
The Pourhouse accepts monetary donations, but also said they accept donations that some may not think of, such as bottled water, socks, sunscreen and bug repellant.
For everyone, Dr. Steinhofer said there are measures to take to keep yourself protected in the heat.
“Take frequent water breaks, about every 20 minutes,” he said. “Heat exhaustion can escalate quickly. When someone can’t keep anything down, it makes them more dehydrated. When someone’s mental status changes, it’s time to think about getting them to a hospital.”
Dr. Steinhofer also had advice for everyone outdoors enjoying the weather.
“Mixing alcohol and heat is bad,” he said. “Alcohol is a diuretic and it dehydrates you quicker, making it easier to get heat exhaustion.”
If you’d like to make a donation to the Pourhouse, Pourhouse.org has a list of current donation needs. Andrea De Mink can also be reached at Andrea@pourhouse.org
