Just got this via e-mail:
** High Priority **
The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for the
Washtenaw County area for today and Tuesday. With the heat index
expected to reach up to 105 degrees, there will be a serious risk for
heat-related illness.The Red Cross will open a cooling center at Eastern Michigan University
today from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. More
information about the center and transportation options is available via
the Washtenaw County Web site,
http://www.ewashtenaw.org/news/2006/heat_warning.html.Please share this information with patients, colleagues and neighbors
in the community. The county has asked all residents to be especially
attentive to the elderly and people with disabilities to make sure their
situations are safe. Everyone, no matter what their age or health
status, should use caution in pursuing outdoor work and activities
during this time, and should be sure to drink enough clear liquids.For more information on preventing, identifying and treating
heat-related illness, see these entries in the UMHS Health Topics A to Z
online library.Heat illness symptoms, treatment and prevention:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_heatilln_sma.htmHeat illness precautions for children:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_prevheat_hhg.htm
Spanish version: http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_prevheat_spg.htm
I had heatstroke once, nearly 20 years ago. I suppose I should clarify: from what I’ve been told, I probably had heatstroke. What little I recall of the event was highly unpleasant. Hallucinations, headache, nausea and vomiting featured prominently, with a side order of memory loss thrown in for good measure.
It wasn’t much fun for my parents either. I couldn’t think clearly enough to tell anyone anything useful, such as, “Boy, my head really hurts. And everything has an odd halo effect to it that is making it painful to keep my eyes open. Also, my mouth is very dry and I think I’m going to throw up, so you might not want to be standing between me and the bathroom right now. Oh dear. That wasn’t the toilet was it? Ah. The sink. I suppose it could have been worse.”
All I could manage to say were the phrases, “I don’t know” and, once I recognized that people were worried, “I’m sorry.” As far as diagnostic tools go, these are less than useful. They were sort of the mental equivalent of a default web 404 error. “Something’s wrong, but I can’t tell you what.”
So. Heat stroke. Avoid, avoid, avoid. If you don’t have air conditioning, or if you know someone who may need some extra looking after, check out the cooling center. Personally, I’m ditching my plans of cutting tile and hanging drywall in favor of relaxing in an air conditioned room.