Tips for dealing with hot temperatures

El Paso Fire Department Summer Safety Tips

The summer is upon us and the El Paso Fire Department would like to remind citizens of some summer heat and swimming safety tips:

Excessive Heat Safety

Know the signs of heat related illnesses
These include in order of progression Heat Rash, Sunburn (Sunburn reduces the body’s ability to cool off), Heat Cramps, Heat exhaustion and Heat Stroke.
Heat Stroke is a severe medical emergency.
Stay indoors and limit your exposure to thesun
If possible move outdoor work to morning or evening hours.
Wear light-colored, lightweight, loose-fitting clothing
Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink water.
At minimum you should be drinking 8 eight ounce glasses of water a day.
Sunscreens with and SPF of 30 or more applied 30 minutes prior to going outside should be applied to all surfaces that will be exposed thesun..
Drink plenty of water and replace electrolytes. Avoid heavy meals, caffeine and alcohol.
Protect face and head; wear a wide-brimmed hat.
Check on friends and family, especially the elderly.
NEVERleave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.nsure pets have plenty of water.

Swimming Safety:

Drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional injury-related deaths in the United States and is the second leading cause among children ages 1-14. The majority of drowning’s and near drowning’s occur in residential swimming pools and open water sites. Children can drown in as little as one inch of water and therefore they are at risk of drowning in wading pools, bathtubs, buckets, toilets, spas and hot tubs. Drowning does usually occur quickly and silently. Child drowning’s and near drowning’s can happen in a matter of seconds and typically occur when a child is left unattended or during a brief lapse in supervision. Never leave a child unattended near water in a pool, there is no substitute for adult supervision. Designate a “water watcher” to maintain constant watch over the children in the pool during gatherings. Door and windows should be armed to alert adults when opened. Doors should be self-closing and self-latching so children won’t wander off. Keep a phone poolside so that you never have to leave the pool to answer the phone, and can call for help if needed. Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision. If a child is missing, always check the pool first. Seconds count. Remove toys from in and around the pool when not in use. Do not consider children “drown proof” because they’ve had swimming lessons. Don’t use floating chlorine dispensers that look like toys. Store all chemicals away and out of the reach of children.

Ensure that all family members are aware of these tips and call 911 for any emergency. We wish all the citizens of El Paso a safe and joyous summer!

Source: El Paso Fire Dept.