Public Health cautions Airmen to stay cool this summer

Published March 24, 2009
By Staff Sgt. Thomas J. Doscher
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- With spring just around the corner, the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group Public Health office is cautioning Airmen to be aware of heat stress.

Heat stress is when the body is unable to cool itself by sweating.

"Heat stress occurs when heat is absorbed from the environment faster than the body can get rid of it," said Master Sgt. Naomi Bienfang, 386th EMDG Public Health NCOIC. "This occurs when you do not drink enough fluids to replace what you are sweating away. Heat stress can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps or heat rashes. The heat incident may be severe enough to even cause death."

High temperature and humidity, direct sun or heat, limited air movement and physical exertion are all causes of heat stress. With the average high temperature at the Rock a sweltering 93 degrees and only getting hotter from there, Airmen should be on the look-out for the symptoms of heat stress.

Those symptoms include:

Headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting
Weakness and moist skin
Mood changes such as irritability or confusion
Upset stomach or vomiting.

If you start to suffer from these symptoms or see someone else who is, perform the following steps:

Move the worker to a cool, shaded area
Loosen or remove heavy clothing
Provide cool drinking water
Fan and mist the person with water
Seek medical care