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Tips for Staying Safe in WA’s Hot, Smoky Summer

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Eric Tegethoff

An unprecedented heat wave in Washington state has underscored the importance of staying safe when it’s hot.

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Places such as Seattle reached record highs in late June, with two months of summer still to go.

Dr. Scott Itano, a family medicine physician at Kaiser Permanente in Seattle, offered tips for beating the heat.

“First off, I think prevention is probably the best thing,” Itano recommended. “If you don’t have to go outside in the heat, then try to stay indoors in a cool environment. Also, drink extra water. You’re going to be losing more water, getting more dehydrated.”

Itano suggested when outside, limit exposure to the sun and wear light clothing, and limit the intensity of exercise. He emphasized people should be mindful of the signs of heat exhaustion; nausea, dizziness, cramps, or a headache.

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Itano added lightheadedness, an abnormal or fast heartbeat or feelings of confusion could be signs of a heat stroke, which can be life-threatening. He advised people with severe symptoms to go to an urgent care facility.

Rising temperatures also raise the threat of wildfires. Itano noted Washingtonians should be careful when there is smoke in the air, and watch out for eye, nose or throat irritation.

“If you’re having lung symptoms, so problems breathing, wheezing, coughing, or heart issues,” Itano outlined. “You may get chest pain or elevated heart rate, or just not feel like yourself. Those are the most important things to look out for.”

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He stressed children have less resilience to heat and smoke, and so parents and guardians should minimize their exposure to such threats as much as possible. Itano cautioned his advice could continue to stay relevant in future summers as the effects of climate change intensify.

Tania Gomezdaza

Una ola de calor sin precedentes en el estado de Washington ha subrayado la importancia de mantenerse a salvo cuando hace calor.

Lugares como Seattle alcanzaron niveles record a finales de junio, con dos meses de verano aun por recorrer.

El doctor Scott Itano, medico de cabecera de Kaiser Permanente en Seattle, tiene algunos consejos para combatir el calor.

“En primer lugar, creo que la prevencion es probablemente lo mejor,” recomienda Itano. “Si no tiene que salir al aire libre en el calor, intente permanecer adentro en un ambiente fresco. Ademas, beba mas agua. Usted va a perder mas agua y deshidratarse mas.”

Itano dice que si la gente sale al aire libre, debe limitar su exposicion al sol y usar ropa ligera. Los usuarios deben tratar de no esforzarse tanto como lo hacen normalmente. El dice que las personas tambien deben ser conscientes de los signos del agotamiento por calor: nauseas, mareos, calambres o dolor de cabeza.

Itano agrega que el aturdimiento, un latido cardiaco rapido o anormal o sentimientos de confusion pueden ser signos de un golpe de calor, el cual puede poner en peligro la vida. Aconseja a las personas con sintomas graves que acudan a un centro de atencion de urgencia.

El aumento de las temperaturas tambien aumenta la amenaza de incendios forestales. Itano dice que los habitantes de Washington deben tener cuidado cuando hay humo afuera y tener cuidado con la irritacion de ojos, nariz o garganta.

“Si tiene sintomas pulmonares, problemas para respirar, sibilancias, tos o problemas cardiacos,” Itano enfatiza. “Por lo tanto, puede tener dolor de pecho o frecuencia cardiaca elevada o simplemente no sentirse como usted mismo. Esas son las cosas mas importantes a tener en cuenta.”

Agrega que los ninos tienen menos resistencia al calor y al humo, por lo que los padres y tutores deben minimizar su exposicion lo mas posible ante estas amenazas.

Desafortunadamente, Itano dice que este consejo podria seguir siendo relevante en los veranos futuros a medida que se intensifiquen los efectos del cambio climatico.

The above article and translation were provided by the Washington News Service. The Auburn Examiner has not independently verified its content. 

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