How to recognize the signs of heat-related illness during the Chicago heat wave

With temperatures reaching the 90s over the next week, Chicago area residents are advised to be on the lookout for warning signs of heat exhaustion, heat stroke and other hot weather illnesses that can cause serious problems.

“Heat illness can occur when the body is dehydrated and unable to properly cool itself by sweating,” Dr. Kush Desai of Rush University Medical Group said in a written statement. “In some cases, your body temperature rises faster than it can cool, which can potentially damage vital organs.”

Rashes, heat syncope, heat cramps, and rhabdomyolysis are other common weather-related illnesses characterized by their own symptoms and severity.

But heat stroke is the most serious illness triggered by hot weather, according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, with body temperatures rising to 106 degrees or more within 10 to 15 minutes.

According to the CDC, heatstroke and heat exhaustion are characterized by high body temperature, headache, dizziness, nausea, rapid, weak pulse, and loss of consciousness.

“Heat stroke is the worst and most dangerous,” said Dr. Oyinkansola Okubanjo, an emergency room physician at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. “People should go to the emergency room if they are concerned about heat stroke.”

While waiting for paramedics to arrive, it is important to move the person to a cool environment, pouring cool water on them, fanning them and cooling hot areas such as hands, feet and neck with blocks of ice, Okubanjo said.

Heat exhaustion occurs when the body overheats, but it is not as serious as heat stroke. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include muscle cramps, clammy skin, and feeling thirsty. Without prompt treatment, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke.

“For these people, you don’t necessarily have to call 911 immediately, but you should definitely take them to a cool place and (give them) plenty of fluids to drink to combat heat exhaustion.” , Okubanjo said.

Generally speaking, to stay safe in hot weather, the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications encourages and recommends:

• Stay hydrated
• Staying indoors with the air conditioning on
• Keep blinds and shades closed if you don’t have air conditioning
• Keep electric lights off and off
• Limit the use of ovens or stoves
• Wear loose or light clothing
• Take cool baths and showers
• Do not leave people or animals in parked cars

Spending time at local cooling centers run by the Salvation Army or the city’s Department of Family and Support Services can also help prevent heat-related illnesses.

The Salvation Army Corps plans to operate its 17 cooling centers daily until the heatwave subsides. More locations will be opening soon and all available cooling center locations can be found on the organization’s website at SalArmyChicago.org.

The city’s Department of Family Support Services operates six cooling centers that will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday during the heatwave. Locations and other information can be found at www.chicago.gov.

Staying hydrated and finding other ways to stay cool is especially important when spending time outdoors, whether for play or work.

Taylor Brown, 16, of Woodlawn, showed up for her noon shift Tuesday at Shoreline Sightseeing at Navy Pier.

Clouds and breezes from Lake Michigan helped keep her and her colleagues cool, but there was no escaping the mid-afternoon heat.

“It was pretty hot outside,” Taylor said. “It was windy and (the wind) cooled me down a little, but it’s still warm.”

Ice cream bars and a full bottle of water were part of colleague CJ Strahan’s strategy to stay cool.

Echoing experts’ sentiments about the need to stay hydrated, 22-year-old Auburn resident Gresham has another tip for avoiding heat-related illness.

“Make sure you tell your managers you need a break because it can get hot in here,” Strahan said.