For the past few days sweaty, overheated students braved scorching weather and hot classrooms. Temperatures may be cooling since Monday’s record 97-degree heat , but with more hot days in the near future, students need to know how to keep cool, both for their health and sanity.
Temperatures in the upper 90s can pose an extreme health hazard, especially in the early summer when people have not had time to acclimate to the heat, associate professor of human physiology Christopher Minson said. While the human body is generally adaptable, extreme temperatures are still dangerous, particularly when it is very humid.
As a person begins to lose more liquid from sweating, the body’s blood volume diminishes and the heart has to work harder. This stresses the heart and the brain. It is important to drink a lot of liquids and eat a balanced diet to maintain the water and electrolytes in the blood, but at the same time, drinking too much water can be dangerous.
“If you drink too much pure water, the electrolytes get dumped from your body as well,” Minson said. “If you’re exercising, drinking Gatorade instead of water can replace the electrolytes.”
Minson also said people need to be careful not to overexert themselves when exercising outside. Those who are used to exercising outside should keep track of their heart rates and slow down if the rate gets higher than normal.
Dr. Ben Douglas, Medical Director at the Student Health Center, also stressed the importance of drinking enough liquids when the temperatures get too high.
“The key [to avoiding heat-related illness] is putting cold stuff inside you and around you,” Douglas said. “Drink cold liquids and stay in the shade or in air-conditioned areas as much as possible.”
The fastest way for humans to stay cool is to hide out in an air conditioned building all day, he said.
The Eugene area is a short drive from several lakes and rivers and of course is only about 60 miles from the blustery beaches in Florence.
University students looking to cool off while still enjoying the great outdoors also have several options including access to the Outdoor Program, which provides student with information on where to go for cool summertime activities.
In addition to the information available in the office, the program offers several low-cost clinics and trips throughout the summer months, said Outdoor Program Coordinator Daniel Geiger.
The program offers clinics, such as a class on sea kayaking , and leads white-water rafting trips as well as opportunities for canoeing and kayaking. Lists of upcoming trips are posted in the Outdoor Program office and on the program’s Web site: http://outdoorprogram.uoregon.edu.
Those who are ambitious enough to embark on their own outdoor adventures can rent Outdoor Program supplies and equipment from tents to river rafts. Equipment rental rates and hours are also available on the web site.
Those who prefer to stay in town can find relief while swimming in one of the city’s three public pools. The Amazon, Echo Hollow and Sheldon pools are all open to the public and are available for lap and open swim.
Douglas said people need to remember to drink liquids even at the pool or river.
“Sometimes when people are swimming, they don’t realize they’re getting dehydrated,” he said.
Symptoms of hyperthermia and dehydration include dizziness, fatigue, headaches, disorientation, nausea and fainting. People experiencing these symptoms should get into a cool place and hydrate themselves immediately.
Douglas stressed the importance of people looking out for one another.
“Watch for symptoms in other people,” he said. “People can die from dehydration. Get them inside and get them drinks. The best thing to do [if symptoms are severe], is to call for an ambulance. If they’re very confused or passing out, they need medical attention A.S.A.P.”
As important as it is to watch for signs of human dehydration, it is equally vital to keep an eye on pets and animals, said Greenhill Humane Society Operations Manager Theresa Iverson.
Since pets do not sweat and often have heavy fur coats, they are highly susceptible to heat-related problems. The most important thing to know about animals, Iverson said, is avoid leaving pets unattended in unventilated cars.
“Do not take animals with you. As soon as you turn off the engine, the car heats up very quickly,” she said. “Even a quick trip to the store can mean death for that animal. Leave them at home.”
Animals need a constant supply of cool water and should not be left alone outside without access to a lot of shade. The symptoms of hyperthermia can be harder to spot in animals, but if pets are listless, loose their appetites or pant heavily (cats should not pant at all), they need to be cooled off right away, Iverson said.
Like humans, animals need to be cooled both inside and out by drinking water and being wetted down with cool, but not cold, water.