Central Texas is experiencing a heat wave as many will be looking to celebrate the July 4 weekend outdoors. The City of Austin is encouraging everyone who plans on being outside to look for warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
The combination of high temperatures and humidity in the summertime makes us vulnerable to heat-related illness if we aren’t careful to stay hydrated, take breaks and stay in the shade. When these practices aren’t followed, you may put yourself at life-threatening risk.
“Texans are tough, but the heat can be dangerous to us all. The weather we’re seeing now poses a risk to anyone who is staying outdoors for an extended time, so take breaks every 20 to 30 minutes to cool off,” said Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes. “Let’s make sure to look out for ourselves and others to ensure a fun and safe summer. Stay hydrated with water drinking 8 to 16 ounces an hour when outdoors in extreme heat, replenish electrolytes, and avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks.”
It’s important for everyone to drink plenty of water whether you’re spending time indoors or outdoors. Signs and symptoms of dehydration include dry lips and headaches. Another sign to look out for is if you stop sweating while still outdoors in the sun – your body hasn’t suddenly cooled off; it lacks the water it needs to produce sweat that keeps you cool.
“This heat is especially dangerous for members of our community who are at higher risk, which includes pregnant people, people with heart or lung conditions, young children, older adults, those who spend a majority of their days outdoors for work or recreation and those who are unhoused,” said APH Director Adrienne Sturrup. “We will continue to work with social service providers to share information that will help keep people safe in this heat.”
Be aware of the following signs of heat-related illness in yourself and others.
Heat stroke:
- Hot, red, dry or damp skin
- Fast, strong pulse
- Confusion
- Fainting or unconscious
If someone is experiencing signs of heat stroke, MOVE THEM, COOL THEM, and CALL 9-1-1! Do NOT give them anything to drink. Heat stroke is a time-sensitive medical emergency, and a delay in care could mean the difference between life and death.
Heat exhaustion:
- Heavy sweating
- Cold, pale and clammy skin
- Fast, weak pulse
- Nausea or vomiting
- Muscle cramps
- Tiredness or weakness
- Dizziness
- Headache
If someone is experiencing signs of heat exhaustion move them to a cool place, loosen clothes, apply cool, wet clothes on their body or have them take a cool bath and sip water. Seek medical attention if the person vomits multiple times, or the symptoms worsen or last longer than one hour.
Visit ReadyCentralTexas.org for heat safety tips and how to spot/treat heat-related illnesses and to sign up for alerts from Warn Central Texas. Being prepared and knowing how to respond to heat-related illnesses can save lives.
Cooling centers:
- City of Austin facilities (including rec centers & libraries) are available as cooling centers during normal business operations – many facilities are open until 8 p.m.
- These cooling centers serve as a way to get out of the heat, allowing people and their service animals to cool off during the hottest times of the day.
- Visit austintexas.gov/alerts for the most up-to-date cooling center information in 13 languages.
Heat safety tips:
- Stay hydrated. Remember to drink water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing.
- Apply and re-apply sunscreen according to product labels.
- Take shade breaks, especially if you work outside.
- Practice water safety while cooling off in pools and open water.
- Look before you lock:
- Heat stroke is the leading cause of non-collision vehicle-related deaths in children.
- Always check the back seats of your vehicle for children, pets and adults before leaving and locking your parked vehicle.
- Keep your pets inside whenever possible.
- Pack a collapsible water bowl for water breaks for dogs, cats or other pets.
Historically, the Fourth of July weekend brings an increase in visitors to area lakes, pools and rivers. With an increase in the amount of people participating in activities in or around water, the risk of drowning increases as well.
“We absolutely want people to enjoy their holiday weekend, and spending time in or around pools or lakes is a great way to celebrate with friends and family,” said ATCEMS Captain Christa Stedman. “What we do not want, is for anyone’s celebration to turn into tragedy. Even the most experienced swimmers can become drowning victims, so it’s important for everyone to take water safety seriously.”
Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) has responded to 17 drowning incidents since April 1st of this year, including multiple that involved children and had tragic, preventable outcomes. Additionally, ATCEMS has responded to 27 water rescues in the same time period on area lakes and rivers, resulting in multiple fatalities.
If you’re planning to beat the heat in or around water, learn to recognize signs of drowning.
- Head low in the water, mouth at water level
- Head tilted back with mouth open
- Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus
- No response when you ask if they’re ‘OK’
- Eyes closed
- Not using legs – Vertical in the water
- Hyperventilating or gasping
- Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making progress
- Trying to roll over on the back
- Appear to be climbing an invisible ladder
Remember, drowning is silent and can happen in seconds. Never, ever leave children unattended in or near the water! Keep these safety tips in mind around water:
- Watch children and weak swimmers when they are in or around water, without distractions.
- Assign a “Water Guardian” to watch children who are in, near, or around water.
Swimming Pools
- Teach children how to swim.
- Keep children within arms reach of an adult
- Older children should swim with a buddy
- Install fences around home pools
- Empty kids' pools after each use.
- Those who are weak swimmers, or don’t know how to swim should use personal floatation devices (PFDs)
Lakes or Open Water
- Constant supervision of children and inexperienced swimmers.
- If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
- Immediately get out of the water when you see lightning or hear thunder.
- Stay sober! Refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages. Inebriation can significantly impair your ability to swim or assist others in danger.
- Know your location and, if on a boat, be able to give a description of the boat you are on in case of an emergency.
- Download the what3words location app on your phone, so you can give rescuers your exact location if an emergency arises.
- Know how many people are in your group and perform periodic headcounts to ensure all guests are accounted for.
- If someone is missing, know where the person was last seen and what he/she was wearing.
- Protect your feet from jagged rocks, broken glass or other sharp objects by wearing water shoes.
- Do not jump or dive into the water if you are uncertain of the depth. It can be difficult to determine how deep the water is and jumping into shallow water can cause serious injury or death.
- Refrain from swimming after flooding or heavy rains. Unlike swimming pools, natural waters are not chlorinated or disinfected. The risk of bacterial infection increases after heavy rains due to hazardous matter washing into the lakes and streams.
Boater Safety
- Stay away from outboard motors to avoid propeller injuries
- Like cars, boats also emit carbon monoxide (or CO)
- The CO emitted from boating traffic can pose a serious threat to boaters and swimmers.
- Boaters should refrain from idling the motor for extended periods of time.
- Swimmers should stay away from exhaust vent areas and avoid swimming near or under the swim platform or back deck.
- The law requires all boats to have at least one PFD per person onboard the boat
