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NWS Southern Region Headquarters Heat Wave Safety Rules

• Slow down. Strenuous activities should be reduced, eliminated, or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day. Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.
• Dress for summer. Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures.
• Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods (like proteins) that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.
• Drink plenty of water or other non-alcohol fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don't feel thirsty. Persons who
• have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease,
• are on fluid restrictive diets, or
• have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages.
• Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician. Persons on salt restrictive diets should consult a physician before increasing their salt intake.
• Spend more time in air-conditioned places. Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the heat. If you cannot afford an air conditioner, spending some time each day (during hot weather) in an air conditioned environment affords some protection.
• Don't get too much sun. Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult.

• Sunburn - Redness and pain. In severe cases swelling of skin, blisters, fever and headaches.
• Heat Cramps - Painful spasms usually in muscles of legs and abdomen possible. Heavy sweating.
• Heat Exhaustion - Heavy sweating, weakness, skin cold, pale and clammy. Fainting and vomiting. Normal temperature possible.
• Heat or Sun Stroke - High body temperature (106 or higher). Hot, dry skin. Rapid and strong pulse. Possible unconsciousness.

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