By RANDY RICHMAN
The summer heat is here! Be sure to stay cool this summer and avoid overheating your body.
Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness caused by overexposure or overworking in a high-temperature environment, and often is related to dehydration.
Signs of heat-related illnesses are excessive thirst, weakness, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, profuse sweating or, worse yet, not sweating when you should be!
Staying hydrated is very important when exposed to the heat. The cardinal rule is to drink eight, eight-ounce glasses of water per day. But, when the heat is high and your body is using that water to stay cool, you need more. One easy formula is to take your body weight divided by two. This equals the number of ounces you should drink in the heat. For example, a 200-pound person should divide their weight in two: 200 รท 2 = 100; 100 ounces of water for a 200-pound person.
If you find yourself or someone else experiencing signs of heat exhaustion, try to move to a cool, air-conditioned place, or into the shade. Remove any tight or unnecessary clothing. Apply fans or cool towels to help cool the body.
If there is no relief in 15 minutes, or the person becomes unconscious, seek medical attention or call 911 immediately.
Stay cool, protect your skin with sunscreen, and enjoy your summer!

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Randy Richman is a captain in the Brookfield Township Volunteer Fire Department, a part-time Brookfield firefighter and paramedic, and a firefighting instructor.

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