Excessive Heat Warnings throughout Mississippi

Tips to for Adults and Children Stay Cool and Safe

Temperatures throughout South Mississippi continue to rise. With the rise in temperature, it is important to protect yourself and loved ones from the excessive heat. South Central Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Medicine physician, Edmund Chinchar, MD, explains the effects the extreme heat can have on a person’s body and what to do if an emergency occurs.

Edmund Chinchar, MD
Emergency Medicine
SCRMC Emergency Department

“Staying outside too long during times of excessive heat can cause wear and tear on the body,” said Dr. Chinchar. “It will cause muscles to break down and when it does that, it can cause problems with your kidneys because your kidneys are trying to clear all that out.”

Heat illness is characterized by loss of sweating, confusion leading to coma, fast pulse, low blood pressure, heart failure and kidney failure. People with heat illness will not be able to notice the change so it’s important that family members be alert for changes during the summer months, especially in the very young and the very old who are most susceptible to heat illness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infants and the very young have a high surface area to mass ratio and will absorb heat from the environment more readily. The young also have no way to remove themselves from warm environments. If they are left unattended in a car or enclosed area without cooling, their body temperatures can rise very quickly. Teenage athletes are very prone to heat illness in the summer months when beginning training schedules for such activities as soccer and football.

The CDC also noted that the elderly frequently have heart disease, take medications that can lead to dehydration, and may live in enclosed environments that are not cooled.

Dr. Chinchar stated, “It is important to monitor the elderly during the summer months. If they are in a home alone and the air conditioning is off, and there is no one frequently checking on them, they can suffer from heat illnesses. Usually adults, ages 65 and over, are the most likely to experience difficulty with the extreme temperatures.”

If you suspect you are suffering from heat exhaustion, Dr. Chinchar recommends to remove yourself from the environment. “If you can, get inside or find a shaded area. It is important to start drinking fluids – water or Gatorade-type products; if you are wearing a lot of layers, start removing those, and find a place to rest for an extended period of time.”

There are ways to be proactive from heat illnesses. Dr. Chinchar states, “Before you start your activities outside, make sure you are hydrated in the morning. Do not leave the house with one cup of coffee or breakfast and then go into the heat. When you wake up, drink plenty of fluids, eat a light breakfast and continue water or Gatorade type fluids throughout the day. Also, take frequent, short breaks and wear breathable clothing.”

If you have someone who is warm and confused or delirious, not making any urine and breathing rapidly, it is important to move this person to a cooler environment and contact emergency personnel. External cooling such as mists plus fan, ice packs to the head and neck, removing clothing and applying cool compresses can all be effective. An ice bath may occasionally be used in the most extreme circumstance, but getting the patient to emergency services is the most important. It is best to call emergency services to assist with someone having difficulty with breathing.

SCRMC encourages the community to take proactive steps to keep yourself and your loved ones safe this summer. If you experience a heat related illness, we have facilities available to help.

• Ellisville Medical Clinic – 1203 Avenue B, Ellisville, MS 39437 – 601-477-8553
• Ellisville Pediatric Clinic – 1203 Avenue B, Ellisville, MS 39437 – 601-477-3550
• South Central Emergency Department – 1220 Jefferson Street, Laurel, MS 39440
• South Central Family Medicine & Urgent Care – 1430 Jefferson Street, Laurel, MS 39440 – 601-425-2273
• South Central Pediatrics – 1002 Jefferson Street, Suite 200, Laurel, MS 39440 – 601-649-3520