Seasonal Safety Tips

Heat Related Emergencies
Summer Outodoor Safety
Water Safety

Heat Stress ~ Heat Exhaustion ~ Heat Stroke

July and August are probably some of the hottest months in the lowcountry. It's important to know how the heat can affect you!

As temperatures rise, so does the stress on your body. Several things can help you battle the heat ~ acclimation to the heat, consumption of water and good nutrition.

Your body is a good regulator of heat. Your body reacts to heat by circulating blood and raising your skin's temperature. The excess heat is released through the skin by sweating. Sweating can also maintain a stable body temperature if the humidity level is low enough to permit evaporation and if fluids and salts you lose are adequately replaced. When your body cannot release heat, it stores it which raises your core temperature and puts your health at risk.

Heat Stress (heat cramps)

Excessive heat places abnormal stress on your body. When your body temperature rises even a few degrees above normal, you can experience muscle cramps, become weak, disoriented and ill. The six factors of heat stress are temperature, humidity, movement of air or lack of, radiant temperature of your surroundings (ie: working around a grill), clothing and physical activity.

Signs of heat stress (heat cramps) ~ tiredness, irritability, inattention, and muscle cramps which are painful intermittent spasms of the abdomen and other voluntary muscles. Heat cramps usually occur after heavy sweating and may begin towards the end of a workday.

First Aid for heat stress/heat cramps ~ drink fluids (water or Gatorade ~ not alcohol, caffeine or carbonated beverages) and move to a cool environment

Heat Exhaustion

This develops when a person fails to replace fluids and salt that are lost through sweating. You may start to experience extreme weakness, fatigue, giddiness, nausea or a headache.

First Aid for heat exhaustion ~ rest in the shade or a cool place, drink plenty of water or Gatorade, loosen clothing to allow your body to cool and use cool wet rags to aid cooling.

Heat Stroke

This is a life threatening medical condition that urgently requires medical attention. Sweating is diminished or absent, which makes the skin hot and dry. Body temperature is very high (greater than 105 degrees).

Signs of heat stroke ~ mental confusion, delirium, chills, dizziness, loss of consciousness, convulsions or coma, hot, dry skin that may be red, mottled or bluish.

First Aid for heat stroke ~ this is a medical emergency! Call 9-1-1. Brain damage and death are possible. Until medical help arrives, move the victim from the heat and into a cool place.

Summer Outdoor Safety

Don't hesitate ~ hydrate! Drink plenty of fluids when participating in outdoor activities. Don't drink alcohol when engaging in sports.
Make sure all equipment (bikes, shoes, skateboards, etc.) are in good working order and fit you properly. Don't wear anything that restricts hearing or obstructs vision.
Make sure you wear the correct protective gear for your activity or sport. Always warm up and stretch before you begin your activity.
To prevent serious injuries while using a trampoline, allow only one person at a time. Place the trampoline away from structures and other play areas. Kids under 6 should not use full size trampolines.
Don't let an outdoor game of hide and seek for kids turn deadly. Warn children not to hide in old refrigerators, picnic coolers, old chests, the trunk of a car, etc.
If you are creating a home playground in your yard, make sure you have a safe surface. Concrete, asphalt or packed dirt is too hard. Use at least 9 inches of wood chips or mulch. Check play equipment for sharp edges or broken parts.
If you are camping or hiking, bring a first aid kit. Be cautious when exploring and don't venture into unknown territory. Always make sure someone knows where you plan to hike or camp.
When mowing the lawn, keep small children out of the yard. Never carry children on a riding mower.
Keep an eye on the sky and if you see a storm approaching ~ get inside! If you hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightening.
Always wear sunscreen and sun glasses! Have a safe summer!

Water Safety

Swimmers

Since most drowning victims had no intention of being in water and since most people drown within 10-30 feet of safety, it is important to know how to swim. Never rely on float toys to stay afloat.

Don't take chances overestimating your swimming skills. Swim only in designated areas and never swim alone. No one can anticipate changing ocean currents, riptides, sudden storms or other hidden dangers.

What's a Riptide?

Actually it's an ocean current that has nothing to do with the tides. A rip current happens as water that's built up on shore returns to the ocean (all those waves need to go somewhere!). Rip current are often found near fixed objects, like piers and reefs, which is why these are "no swimming" areas. If you swim into a rip current (you'll feel it pulling you out to sea), don't panic. Swim parallel to shore until you feel the pull stop. You can then swim back to shore.

Divers

Be careful about diving. Teens are more likely than any other age group to suffer diving injuries, many of which can result in permanent spinal cord damage or death. Only dive in areas that are known to be safe for diving, such as the deep end of a supervised pool. A "no diving" sign means that the water isn't safe for a head-first entry.

Watch Children

Each year about 200 children drown and several thousand others are treated in hospitals for submersion accidents, accidents which leave children with permanent brain damage and respiratory health problems. Remember, it only takes a few seconds for a small child to wander away. Children have a natural curiosity and attraction to water.

Cold Water Survival

Hypothermia is a condition in which the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Violent shivering develops which may give way to confusion and a loss of body movement. If you fall in the water, in any season, hypothermia may occur. It's important to remember:

Don't discard clothing. Clothing layers provide some warmth. This includes shoes and hats.
Wear your life jacket! This helps hold heat into the core areas of your body.

No Alcohol

Unfortunately many people ignore this warning and each year about 3000 of them are wrongâ€¦dead wrong. More than half of all people that drown had consumed alcohol prior to their accident. Just one beer will impair your balance, vision, judgment and reaction time, therefore making you a danger to yourself and others.

Have fun this summer and stay water safe!

For additional tips please contact Cinda Seamon, Public Education Officer , Town of Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue ~ (843)682-5141.

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