PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
400 PM CDT MON AUG 2 2010
…THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH….
THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISES THE PUBLIC TO BE
ALERT TO THE WARNING SIGNALS OF HEAT ILLNESSES. THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS PLACED ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA UNDER A HEAT
ADVISORY UNTIL THROUGH 7 PM CDT WEDNESDAY. THIS ADVISORY WILL LIKELY
NEED TO BE EXTENDED FARTHER INTO THE WORK WEEK.
THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL CREATE DAYTIME AFTERNOON
HEAT INDEX VALUES RANGING FROM 108 TO 115 DEGREES. IN ADDITION,
OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURES WILL NOT PROVIDE MUCH RELIEF AS TEMPERATURES
WILL NOT DROP BELOW 75 DEGREES SO THAT ANY HEAT THAT BUILDS UP IN
INDOOR AREAS WILL HAVE VERY LITTLE OPPORTUNITY TO ESCAPE.
PEOPLE SHOULD DRINK PLENTY OF WATER, STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM,
AND KEEP OUT OF THE SUN. THE PUBLIC SHOULD ALSO CHECK ON THE ELDERLY
AND ENSURE PETS HAVE PLENTY OF WATER TO DRINK AND A SHADY PLACE TO
COOL OFF.
HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES OCCUR WHEN THE BODY’S TEMPERATURE CONTROL
SYSTEM IS OVERLOADED. THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
CAUTIONS EVERYONE TO BE ALERT TO THE WARNINGS THAT MAY SIGNAL HELP
IS NEEDED.
HEAT STROKE, SOMETIMES CALLED SUNSTROKE, IS THE MOST SERIOUS HEAT
RELATED ILLNESS. IT OCCURS WHEN THE BODY BECOMES UNABLE TO CONTROL
ITS TEMPERATURE. THE BODY’S TEMPERATURE RISES RAPIDLY, THE
SWEATING MECHANISM FAILS AND THE BODY IS UNABLE TO COOL DOWN. BODY
TEMPERATURE MAY RISE TO 106 DEGREES F OR HIGHER WITHIN 10 TO 15
MINUTES. HEAT STROKE CAN CAUSE DEATH OR PERMANENT DISABILITY IF
EMERGENCY TREATMENT IS NOT PROVIDED.
WARNING SIGNS OF HEAT STROKE VARY, BUT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
-AN EXTREMELY HIGH BODY TEMPERATURE (ABOVE 103 DEGREES F)
-RED, HOT AND DRY SKIN (NO SWEATING)
-RAPID, STRONG PULSE
-THROBBING HEADACHE
-DIZZINESS
-NAUSEA
-CONFUSION
-UNCONSCIOUSNESS
GET THE PERSON TO A SHADY AREA, COOL RAPIDLY IN A TUB OF COOL WATER,
PLACE IN A COOL SHOWER, SPRAY WITH COOL WATER FROM A GARDEN HOSE,
SPLASH WITH COOL WATER, OR, IF THE HUMIDITY IS LOW, PLACE IN A
COOL, WET SHEET AND FAN VIGOROUSLY. MONITOR BODY TEMPERATURE AND
CONTINUE COOLING EFFORTS UNTIL THE PERSON’S BODY TEMPERATURE DROPS
TO 101 TO 102 DEGREES F. IF EMERGENCY MEDICAL PERSONNEL ARE
DELAYED, CALL A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.
DR. DONALD WILLIAMSON, STATE HEALTH OFFICER, SAID, “HEAT STROKE IS
A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY. A PERSON WITH HEAT STROKE IS LIKELY
TO BE UNCONSCIOUS OR UNRESPONSIVE, SO HE OR SHE CANNOT SAFELY
CONSUME ANY LIQUIDS. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU GIVE ANY
ALCOHOL TO A PERSON WITH HEAT STROKE OR ANY HEAT ILLNESS.”
FOLLOW THESE PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO AVOID HEAT ILLNESSES:
-DRINK MORE FLUIDS, AND AVOID BEVERAGES CONTAINING ALCOHOL OR
CAFFEINE.
-WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE EXTREME, STAY INDOORS, IDEALLY IN AN AIR-
CONDITIONED PLACE.
-TAKE A COOL SHOWER OR BATH, AND REDUCE OR ELIMINATE STRENUOUS
ACTIVITIES DURING THE HOTTEST TIME OF THE DAY.
-PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN WITH A WIDE BRIMMED HAT, LIGHT
COLORED AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING, AND USE A SUNSCREEN OF SPF 15
OR HIGHER.
-NEVER LEAVE PETS OR PEOPLE IN A PARKED VEHICLE.
INDIVIDUALS WITH HEART PROBLEMS, POOR CIRCULATION, DIABETES, A
PREVIOUS STROKE OR OBESITY ARE AT GREATER RISK OF BECOMING SICK
IN HOT WEATHER. THE RISK OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESS MAY INCREASE
AMONG PEOPLE USING MEDICATIONS FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE,
NERVOUSNESS OR DEPRESSION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.ADPH.ORG.
