Stay cool and avoid heat exhaustion

Sage Ramey was out with his friends at the Portneuf Wellness Center Friday afternoon. They gathered up for a picnic under some umbrellas. He says he brings the H20 everywhere he goes now that the weather has gone beyond the 80s. He says 3 hours or less is more than enough for time in sun.

“Drink plenty of water fluids and staying away from soda. Things like that, because the sugar won’t go well with your blood in the heat. And making sure you get some time out from the sun, like going inside, or finding an umbrella,” said Ramey.

He says his job does not require him to work in the sun, but at Texas Road House he has seen many people recently come out from heat during the day. He says some are exhausted from the heat, mostly people who have been out walking around.

According to John Conner, Emergency Physician at the Portneuf Medical Center, heat exhaustion and heat stroke differ in that one is more severe than the other. Though, they are quite similar, he says, heat stroke needs immediate medical attention. And if treatment becomes delayed, it can lead to seizures, fainting, to brain damage or even death. It’s when the body rises to at least 104 degrees F. He says he has not seen any patients come in with heat-related illnesses yet but is prepared when they do.

“The first thing we do is, hydrate them, take off all of their clothes and we put a wet sheet over them with a fan,” said Conner.