Health Alert: Excessive Heat Warning thru Friday plus orange rated air quality

With the heat index expected to be 100 degrees plus, an excessive heat warning is in effect according to the National Weather Service thru 7 p.m. Friday for Chicago.  The air quality is rated orange by AIRNow, based on data from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

For the heat index, drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned space and stay out of the sun. Check on relatives and neighbors particularly the elderly and those with medical conditions aggravated by heat. Do NOT enclose people or pets in enclosed parked vehicles. Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the U.S.

For the air quality rating, active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

Safety tips from the National Weather Service:

For Children:

• • Make sure your child's safety seat and safety belt buckles aren't too hot before securing your child in a safety restraint system, especially when your car has been parked in the heat.
  • Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down.
  • Teach children not to play in, on or around cars.
  • Always lock car doors and trunks--even at home--and keep keys out of children's reach.
  • Always make sure all children have left the car when you reach your destination. Don't leave sleeping infants in the car ever!

For Adults:

• • Slow down. Reduce, eliminate or rescheduled strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day. Children, senior and anyone with health problems should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.
  • Dress for summer. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight.
  • Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods, like meat and other proteins that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.
  • Drink plenty of water or other non-alcohol or decaffeinated fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don't feel thirsty. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease, are on fluid restrictive diets or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids. Do not drink alcoholic beverages.  Limit caffeinated beverage consumption.
  • During excess heat period, spend more time in air-conditioned places. Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the heat. If you cannot afford an air conditioner, go to a library, store or other location with air conditioning for part of the day.
  • Don't get too much sun. Sunburn reduces your body's ability to dissipate heat.
  • Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.

Heat disorders are:

Heat cramps
Painful spasms usually in the muscles of legs and abdomen. Heavy sweating.
First Aid: Firm pressure on cramping muscles or gentle massage to relieve spasm. Give sips of water. If nausea occurs, discontinue water.

Heat exhaustion
Heavy sweating, weakness, skin cold, pale and clammy. Pulse thready. Normal temperature possible. Fainting and vomiting.
First Aid: Get victim out of sun. Once inside, the person should lay down and loosen clothing. Apply cool, wet cloths. Fan or move victim to air conditioned room. Offer sips of water. If nausea occurs, discontinue water. If vomiting continues, seek immediate medical attention.

Heat stroke (or sunstroke)
High body temperature (106° F or higher). Hot dry skin. Rapid and strong pulse. Possible unconsciousness.
First Aid: HEAT STROKE IS A SEVERE MEDICAL EMERGENCY. SUMMON EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR GET THE VICTIM TO A HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY. DELAY CAN BE FATAL.White waiting for emergency assistance, move the victim to a cooler environment Reduce body temperature with cold bath or sponging. Use extreme caution. Remove clothing, use fans and air conditioners. If temperature rises again, repeat process. Do not give fluids. Persons on salt restrictive diets should consult a physician before increasing their salt intake.

When is an excessive heat warning issued? When the peak heat index is 110+ degrees for one day; 105-110 for two days; or 100-105 for three days. The heat index is derived based on the temperature and humidity. Dry air allows the skin's surface to cool as a result of evaporation. The higher the humidity, the less evaporation occurs on the skin.

For more info: WGN's Chicago Weather Center