Dangerous Heat Strikes Israel at End of August

Good Morning:

Our forecast model shows extreme heat will affect us today (Sunday) and Monday, possibly lasting through Tuesday.

Unusually, heat indexes in coastal areas will be in the upper 30s, which will create both dangerous health conditions and tax our electrical grid.  Elsewhere, high temperatures will approach 40 Celsius in Jerusalem and be well above 40 degrees in normally hotter areas (e.g, 47 Celsius in Eilat).

Here are signs of heat stroke, which must be treated immediately.  Be aware that heat stroke is often preceded by heat exhaustion.  All are listed below, from the  US CDC web site.

Symptoms of heat stroke include:

• Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech
• Loss of consciousness (coma)
• Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
• Seizures
• Very high body temperature

First Aid

Take the following steps to treat a person with heat stroke:

• Stay with the the person until emergency medical services arrive.
• Move the person to a shaded, cool area and remove outer clothing.
• Cool the person quickly, using the following methods:

• • With a cold water or ice bath, if possible
  • Wet the skin
  • Place cold wet cloths on the skin
  • Soak clothing with cool water

• Circulate the air around the worker to speed cooling.
• Place cold wet cloths or ice on the head, neck, armpits, and groin; or soak the clothing with cool water.

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt, usually through excessive sweating.

Symptoms

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Irritability
• Thirst
• Heavy sweating
• Elevated body temperature
• Decreased urine output

First Aid

Treat a person

who has heat exhaustion by doing the following:

• Take person to a clinic or emergency room for medical evaluation and treatment.
• Have someone stay with the person until help arrives.
• Remove the person from the hot area and give liquids to drink.
• Remove unnecessary clothing, including shoes and socks.
• Cool the person with cold compresses or have the worker wash their head, face, and neck with cold water.
• Encourage frequent sips of cool water.