Stay cool as summer heats up

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Justin Veazie
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  As the heat is starting to pick up on Okinawa, there are a few facts about how to stay safe and take care of your body throughout the summer.

During the summer months, heat-related illness prevention is a major concern for all Airmen, civilians and dependents. Heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are all different symptoms of heat-related illnesses and dehydration.

Knowing the flag conditions, monitoring water intake and work/rest cycles can help prevent injuries while conducting physical fitness activities or work outside this summer.

Make sure that wingmen are staying well hydrated; because proper hydration helps the body regulate its temperature and allows the body to release excess heat.

"When the body fails to regulate temperature to the norm, which is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, permanent damage can occur," explained Senior Airman Stephanie Fuller, 18th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental engineering technician. "This damage can come in the form of cell and nerve damage and can ultimately lead to death."

According to the 18th Aeromedical Squadron bioenvironmental flight, sweating is a main mechanism for the body to lose heat. Drinking water to maintain hydration allows the body to dissipate excess heat in sweat.

High humidity impedes the ability for the sweat to evaporate, decreasing its effectiveness to take heat away from the body. Adequate drinking is necessary to replace the water and maintain blood volume.

Some individual risk factors are being overweight, fitness level, medications, acclimatization, alcohol and caffeine consumption.

Other signs to look out for pertaining to heat-related illnesses are heat rash, cramps, dizziness and fainting, exhaustion and stroke, and deterioration, which is the most common health problem of heat stress.

The symptoms of heat stroke may be the same as for heat exhaustion, but the skin may be dry with no sweating and the person's mental condition worsens.

"If a person shows any signs or symptoms of heat-related illness the best method is to use off cool (not cold) water and get the person into a shaded area," said Fuller. "A severe drop in body temperature may put the person into shock, so personnel should be treated for shock. Monitor the injured person for signs of improvement, if none occur, it is recommended to call an ambulance. The more severe the heat-related injury, the more important it is to detect the signs and render the proper treatment."

Airman can reference pages 180-185 in their Airman's Manual, AFPAM 10-100, for more information on heat conditions and treatments for related injuries.