From 1979-2002, more people died from extreme heat than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes combined (almost 9,000).

The elderly, children and people with certain medical conditions, like heart disease, are at greater risk. But even healthy, young people can succumb to heat.

Consult your physician immediately if you think you have a heat-related ailment.

On this page:
Heat Safety Tips
Sunburn
Heat Cramps
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke

Heat Safety Tips

1—NEVER leave anyone alone in a closed, parked car—for any amount of time.

• The temperature can rise more than 30 degrees per minute in a closed, parked car.  Cracking the windows slightly, or parking in the shade (with windows up) does not provide heat relief.
• If you see an unattended elderly or disabled person, child or pet in a closed, parked vehicle, call store / mall security or 911 immediately.

2—Talk to your doctor if you take regular medication.

• Some medications can cause adverse reactions in hot weather or direct sunlight. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed by a physician.

3—Drink a lot of water.

• Avoid alcoholic, carbonated, caffeinated and high sugar / high fructose beverages.

4—Eat fully-cooked, frequent small meals.

• Avoid high-protein foods, which increase metabolic heat.
• Beware of food poisoning.  Cook meat thoroughly and don't leave refrigerated / frozen food out long.

5—Stay indoors as much as possible.

• Spend time in your basement if you don't have air-conditioning (AC) in your home, or go someplace like a public library, movie theater or shopping mall.
• On extremely hot and humid days, bring outdoor pets inside or into the basement where it's cooler. Keep cats and other small animals inside.

6—Shut blinds or curtains during the day.

• Open windows slightly to release trapped hot air.
• Use fans to blow hot air out of your home.  Do not direct fans to blow inward at you.  Fans can increase heat loss.
• Use your AC if you have it.  It's more energy-efficient to use the "energy save" mode on your AC all day versus cranking the AC for a few hours when you get home.

7—Take cooler (not cold) baths or showers.

8—Practice outdoor water wisdom.

• It's never too late to learn how to swim. Many of our partner agencies, like the YWCA, offer swimming lessons for people of all ages.
• Review and practice the rules of safe boating.

9—Cover-up and protect.

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and lightweight, light-colored clothing.
• Use sunscreen with an SPF rating of 15 or higher and talk to your family and friends about the importance of sun protection.
• Use bug repellent whenever appropriate.
• Always use a helmet when skating, biking or engaging in any sport on wheels.

10—Limit your time outside.

• Avoid the sun during the middle of the day.
• Keep walks and other physical activity (for you and your pet) at a minimum.  Take shorter walks before the sun comes up or after it sets. When walking your dog, don't leave him standing on hot asphalt—sensitive paws can burn quickly.
• On outings, bring plenty of drinking water for you and a gallon of drinking water for your dog. Chose a location where you and he can frequently rest in the shade.

Sunburn

Symptoms

• Symptoms usually appear within a few hours of exposure: pain, redness, swelling and an occasional blistering.
• Because sunburn affects a large area of your skin, sunburn can cause headaches, fever and fatigue.

Treatment

• Take a cool bath or shower.
• Apply an aloe vera lotion several times a day.
• Leave blisters intact to speed healing and avoid infection.
• If needed, take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as aspirin, acetaminophen, naproxen or ibuprofen.  Don't give children and teens aspirin—it may cause Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.
• If your sunburn begins to blister or if you experience immediate complications, such as rash, itching or fever, see your doctor.

Heat Cramps

Heat cramps are painful, involuntary muscle spasms that usually occur during heavy exercise in hot environments.  Inadequate fluid intake often contributes to heat cramps.  The spasms may be more intense and more prolonged than typical nighttime leg cramps.

Symptoms

• Muscles typically affected are those in your calves, arms, abdomen and back, although heat cramps may involve any muscle group involved in the exercise.

Treatment

• Rest briefly and cool down.
• Drink clear juice or an electrolyte-containing sports drink.
• Practice gentle, range-of-motion stretching and gentle massage of the affected muscle group.
• If your cramps don't go away in one hour, call your doctor.

Heat Exhaustion

Symptoms

• Feeling faint
• Nausea
• Heavy sweating
• Ashen appearance
• Rapid, weak heartbeat
• Low blood pressure
• Cool, moist skin
• Low-grade fever

Treatment

• Get the person out of the sun and into a shaded or air-conditioned location.
• Lay the person down and elevate legs and feet slightly.
• Loosen or remove the person's clothing.
• Have the person drink cool water, not iced, or a sports drink containing electrolytes.
• Cool the person by spraying or sponging with cool water and fanning.
• Monitor the person carefully.  Heat exhaustion can quickly become heatstroke.  If fever becomes greater than 102 degrees F, fainting, confusion or seizures occur, dial 911 or call for emergency medical assistance.

Heatstroke—A Life-threatening Condition

Symptoms

• Dry, hot skin with no sweating
• Mental confusion or losing consciousness
• Seizures or fits

Treatment

• Immediately dial 911 or call for emergency medical assistance.
• If heat stroke sufferer is a pet, take directly to veterinarian.
• Move person into shade, loosen or remove heavy clothing.
• Cool the body quickly. Immerse in a cool (not cold) bath, or wrap the body—especially the wrists for people, paws for animals—in wet sheets or washcloths. Cool water can lower body temperatures faster than sitting in air-conditioning.
• Watch for signs of breathing problems.

Sources: American Red Cross, U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), United Way 2-1-1™, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Xcel Energy, Mayo Clinic, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Resources and More Information

• American Red Cross (Twin Cities Chapter)
• MN Department of Health
• MN Department of Public Safety
• National Weather Service
• Recorded heat information in a variety of languages is available through Emergency and Community Health Outreach (ECHO): 1-888-883-8831.
• To find a cooling station or to discuss heat related concerns, call United Way 2-1-1™.  Just dial 2-1-1 or 651-291-0211.   It's free and confidential.  Visit the online version at the Twin Cities Beehive.
• U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)