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July Tips of the Month: Heat Injuries
The hot, humid days of summer are upon us
and with it come the possibility of heat injuries. There are
three forms of heat injury; heat cramps, heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.
Children, elderly, and
obese people have a higher risk of developing heat illness.
Certain medications and drinking alcohol can also predispose you
to heat illness. Even though certain individuals have a higher
risk to heat injury anyone can succumb to heat illness.
Heat injuries occur when
the body temperature soars above normal, or the body loses its
ability to regulate heat due to exertion or exposure to a hot
climate.
Dehydration is a major
contributing factor to heat related injuries. Under normal
conditions the body loses about one gallon of fluid a day
through sweating, breathing, and going to the bathroom.
You should drink at
least one quart of fluid for each hour you are doing physical
activity.
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