FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jul. 12, 2017) - As part of the 52 Weeks of Public Health campaign, the Department for Public Health, located within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), urges the public to take steps to avoid injury and illness during periods of extreme summertime heat, particularly dangers associated with leaving children in vehicles.
"Extreme temperatures are cause for concern, so we advise the publlic to take necessary steps to keep cool and prevent harm," said Hiram C. Polk Jr., MD, DPH commissioner. "Serious injury - particularly for children exposed to extreme levels of h eat - can occur. Everyone should take steps to avoid these dangers."
According to Kids and Cars, an organization that works to raise awareness of the dangers of leaving children in hot vehicles, 39 children died last year due to heatstroke - medically termed "hypertherimia".
“We want all
our citizens to understand the dangers of extreme heat, particularly the danger
of leaving children in hot cars,” continued Dr. Polk. “Not only are extreme
temperatures uncomfortable, they also present a significant health danger. This
is particularly true for vulnerable populations such as young children and the
elderly.”
Several
measures are recommended to prevent these types of deaths from occurring. They
include:
·Create
reminders. More
than half of child heat stroke deaths occur because parents and caregivers
become distracted and exit their vehicle without their child. To help prevent
these tragedies parents can:
-Place a cell phone, PDA, purse, briefcase, gym bag or something
that is needed at your next stop on the floor in front of a child in a
backseat. This will help you see your child when you open the rear door and
reach for your belongings.
-Set the alarm on your cell phone as a reminder to you to drop your
child off at day care.
-Set your computer calendar program to ask, “Did you drop off at
day care today?”
-Establish a plan with your day care that if your child fails to
arrive within an agreed upon time, you will be called. Be especially mindful of
your child if you change your routine for day care.
·Don’t underestimate the risk. The inside of vehicles can quickly heat
up, even on relatively cool days, so you should never leave your child alone in
a car. Don’t underestimate the risks and leave them even “just for a minute.”
·Lock
cars and trucks. Thirty
percent of the recorded heat stroke deaths in the U.S. occur because a child
was playing in an unattended vehicle. These deaths can be prevented by simply
locking the vehicle doors to help assure that kids don’t enter the vehicles and
become trapped.
·Immediately dial 911 if you see an unattended child in a car. EMS professionals are trained to determine
if a child is in trouble. The body temperature of children rises three to five
times faster than adults. As a result, children are much more vulnerable to
heat stroke. Check vehicles and trunks first if a child is missing.
Additional tips
are recommended to avoid other heat-related injury and illness:
·Drink
plenty of fluids.
Increase your normal fluid intake regardless of your activity level. You will
need to drink more fluids than your thirst level indicates. This is especially
true for people age 65 or older who often have a decreased ability to respond
to external temperature changes. In addition, avoid drinking beverages containing
alcohol, because they will actually cause you to lose more fluid.
·Wear
appropriate clothing and sunscreen.
Choose lightweight, light colored, loose fitting clothing. In the hot sun, wear
a wide-brimmed hat that will provide shade and keep the head cool. Sunscreen
should be SPF 15 or greater and applied 30 minutes before going out into the
sun.
·Stay
cool indoors. The most
efficient way to beat the heat is to stay in an air-conditioned area. If you do
not have an air conditioner, consider visiting a mall or public library.
·Schedule
outdoor activities carefully.
If you must be out in the heat, try to plan your activities so that you are
outdoors either before noon or in the evening. Rest periodically so your
body’s thermostat will have a chance to recover.
·Use
a buddy system. When
working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone
do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become
confused or lose consciousness.
·Monitor
those at high risk.
Those at greatest risk of heat-related illness include:
- Infants and children up to 4 years of
age
- People 65 years of age or older
- People who are overweight
- People who overexert during work or
exercise
- People who are ill or on certain
medications for blood pressure or diuretics
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