Sun, heat exposure can be dangerous if not approached cautiously

Summer fun has begun, but healthcare off icials want to make sure the heat and sun are enjoyed as safely as possible.

Allie Kjormoe, ARNP at Franklin Medical Center- Hampton, said summer’s heat, sun exposure and humidity can be dangerous if not approached properly.

“Prolonged heat and sun exposure can lead to sunburn, heat exhaustion and heat stroke,” she said.

Symptoms for heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, headaches and fainting. Heat stroke, she said, comes with high body temperatures, hot, red and dry skin, vomiting, headaches, confusion and loss of consciousness.

“Very high body temperature puts extra stress on your body,” she said. “This can lead to damage to the brain and other vital body organs.”

Kjormoe said anyone with the symptoms associated with heat stroke needs medical help SUMMER SAFETY immediately. People with heat exhaustion symptoms need to be moved out of the sun, drink water and apply cool, wet clothes to the body. If symptoms don’t improve or worsen after an hour, medical help should be sought.

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