MILTON — Heat-related injuries are common in Florida during the summer months, but there are many things people can do to avoid them.
Florida recorded its hottest average temperatures for the first four months of 2017 since 1895, according to a climate report by the National Centers for Environmental Information.
Jana Lyner, emergency room director at Santa Rosa Medical Center, said that the emergency room does see quite a few people in the summer months with heath-related injuries. Lyner’s advice for people avoiding heat exhaustion or heat stroke is to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“With as hot as it’s been lately, maybe even longer,” Lyner said.
Lyner suggests drinking plenty of fluids if you are going to be in the heat; mainly water, but sometimes drinks like Gatorade. It is important to stay away from beverages high in sodium or carbonation. Lyner also said that people working outside should wear cool, light clothing and protect themselves from the sun with the use of hats and sunscreen.
Avoiding the sun all together may not be a good idea, though.
“We have very few heat-related incidents but it does happen,” Murry Rutledge, athletic director for Milton High School, said. “Other than the obvious solutions such as staying hydrated I would say they don't need to wait until they start practicing to start the hydrating process. No soft drinks and mostly water.
“The best advice I would give is to acclimate yourself by staying outside and doing things instead of sitting in front of a computer, TV, etc.”
Milton residents shared different ways they beat the heat when working or spending time outdoors during the summertime.
Justin Carden said he owns his own construction and tree service business and works in the hottest of hot; he suggests wearing shorts, thin shirts and drinking lots of water.
Brandi Knowles, who works for Santa Rosa County Public Works, said that she has to wear long pants and steel toe boots to work, so instead, she stays hydrated and finds shade when possible.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, there are three types of heat-related illnesses: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat cramps are the mildest form of heat illness and consist of painful muscle cramps and spasms that occur during or after intense exercise and sweating in high heat.
Heat exhaustion results from a loss of water and salt in the body. It occurs in conditions of extreme heat and excessive sweating without adequate fluid and salt replacement. Symptoms include muscle cramps; pale, moist skin; having a fever over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; headache; fatigue; weakness; anxiety and faint feeling.
Heat stroke, the most severe form of heat illness, occurs when the body's heat-regulating system is overwhelmed by excessive heat. It is a life-threatening emergency and requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms include warm, dry skin; high fever, usually over 104 degrees; rapid heart rate; loss of appetite; nausea; vomiting; headache; fatigue; confusion; agitation; lethargy; stupor; seizures, coma, and death are possible.