HJAR Jul/Aug 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  JUL / AUG 2024 39 Jennifer Dillaha, MD Director Arkansas Department of Health with heat rash to move to a cool, dry place. The rash should be kept dry. Powder may help to soothe it. Heat cramps can occur while exercising and are associated with heavy sweating and muscle pain or spasms. If someone experi- ences cramps while exercising or working outdoors in the heat, they should stop physi- cal activity, move to a cooler place, and wait for cramps to end before resuming activi- ties. Getting rehydrated by drinking water or sports drinks is important, as well as staying hydrated after resuming physical activities. Heat exhaustion is characterized by heavy sweating, clammy skin, weak pulse, nau- sea and vomiting, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, headache, and fainting. A person with heat exhaustion may need help. If you suspect someone is experiencing heat ex- haustion, move them to a cool place and loosen their clothing. Use a cool cloth or cool water to cool them down and have them drink water. Seek medical assistance if they are vomiting or if symptoms worsen or last more than an hour. The most serious heat-related illness is heatstroke. Symptoms of heatstroke in- clude high body temperature (103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher), fast pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and fainting. This is a medical emergency. If you suspect someone is experiencing heatstroke, call 911. Move the person to a cooler place, place cool cloths on their skin to help lower their temperature, but do not give the person any- thing to drink. It’s essential that they receive immediate medical care. Extreme heat is dangerous for anyone. However, some groups are more susceptible to heat-related illness, including children, pregnant women, American Indians, people over age 65, people with chronic illness, out- door workers, athletes, and those serving in the military. Over the past five years, heat-related deaths have increased inArkansas. In 2019, Arkansas saw 11 heat-related deaths. In 2023, there were 20 deaths. Emergency depart- ment (ED) visits due to heat-related illnesses during the summertime have also increased. In 2021, there were 1,047 ED visits for heat- related illness. In 2023, there were 1,697. It’s clear that heat-related illnesses will continue to be a problem. TheArkansas De- partment of Health will continue to track the numbers and keep the public updated. I encourage Arkansans to be aware of the dangers of extreme heat and to know what precautions to take to keep themselves out of trouble when they are working or playing outdoors in the summer heat. Prevention is the key to reducing the number of heat- related illnesses and deaths inArkansas this summer. n REFERENCES National Weather Service. “NWS HeatRisk.” Accessed May 2024. https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa. gov/heatrisk/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “NOAA expands availability of new heat forecast tool ahead of summer.” April 22, 2024. https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa- expands-availability-of-new-heat-forecast-tool- ahead-of-summer Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Warning Signs and Symptoms of Heat-Related Illness.” Natural disasters and severe weather flyer, April 24, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/ extremeheat/pdf/Heat_Related_Illness.pdf Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Heat Stress – Heat Related Illness.” Last Reviewed May 13, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/ heatstress/heatrelillness.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Heat & Health Tracker.” Accessed May 2024. https:// ephtracking.cdc.gov/Applications/heatTracker/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “National Integrated Heat Health Information System.” Accessed May 2024. https://www.heat.gov/ Vaidyanathan, A.; Gates, A.; Brown, C.; et al. “Heat-Related Emergency Department Visits — United States, May-September 2023.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 73, no. 15 (April 18, 2024): 324-329. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/ volumes/73/wr/mm7315a1.htm BASED on temperatures from previous summers, we anticipate extreme heat again this year. Extreme heat increases the risk for heat-related illness and death, so it’s impor- tant for everyone to know more about the types of heat illness and how to treat them. Heat-related illness is also known as hy- perthermia. It occurs when a person’s body can’t cool itself properly in extreme heat. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines extreme heat as temperatures that are hotter than average summertime temperatures with the average depending on the location. According to CDC, health emergencies caused by heat have become more frequent and widespread in recent years. Approximately 1,200 people in the United States now die from extreme heat each year. To inform the public, the National Ocean- ic andAtmosphericAdministration (NOAA) and CDC recently expanded the availability of a new heat forecast tool, called HeatRisk. HeatRisk provides data such as the rate of emergency room visits; average maximum temperatures by county for same day and year; and the rate of work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths due to heat. The NOAA says, “the tool takes into account cumulative impacts of heat by identifying expected du- ration of heat” and will help “provide guid- ance for those vulnerable to extreme heat.” There are several types of heat-related ill- ness, including heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke. Clinicians, es- pecially those who provide primary care, should review themwith their staff and have protocols in place whenever appropriate, so they will be prepared for encountering pa- tients with heat-related illness this summer. Heat rash causes damage to the skin. With heat rash, a red cluster or small blis- ters appear on the skin. These usually look like small pimples. It’s important for people