Amid the Houston heat, how to avoid heat exhaustion, heat stroke and death

As the heat index in the Houston area reaches triple digits, local health professionals are warning residents who venture outside to remain aware of their physical limits.

“We’ve seen an increase in deaths recently due to extreme heat, which typically happens a lot in areas where people go out,” said Dr. Joaquin Villegas, assistant professor of family medicine at UTHealth Houston . “In fact, we’ve seen a lot of people – a growing number – also suffering from heat exhaustion and heat stroke. So not just deaths, but morbidity. »

Villegas said those most susceptible to rising temperatures during the summer months include people with limited mobility, those with pre-existing chronic conditions, those who work outdoors and the elderly or pregnant. Children under the age of five may also experience an increased reaction to heat.

According to Dr. Mike Ren, assistant professor of family and community medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, this population is more likely to be dehydrated or not be as aware of proper hydration.

Ren added that warmer weather can worsen symptoms of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, asthma, obstructive lung disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

“Everyone is affected by the heat. This is going to affect you and me differently than an 85-year-old diabetic person,” Ren said. “But everyone is still affected to some extent, and it’s important to have these factors that can help alleviate the heat.”

Doctors advise those who can avoid going out between the afternoon rush hours, between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., to stay indoors. If someone must go out for work, he recommends taking breaks and maintaining consistent hydration.

Villegas said the standard for water consumption is four to six cups or one liter to one and a half liters of water per day. He emphasized that this was the baseline. If a person is outside for extended periods of time, they must compensate for those hours.

People exposed to heat should wear loose, light-colored clothing to cool down. They should also wear sunscreen and a hat or umbrella to protect their skin.

Symptoms of heatstroke to watch out for are headache, nausea and vomiting. If a person feels confused or weak, or goes from sweating profusely to no sweating at all, they could be in heatstroke.

To help people suffering from heat exhaustion outdoors, Ren said it’s best to move them to a shady area where they can lie down. It is essential to rehydrate and attempt to re-regulate the individual’s core body temperature.

In severe situations, it is best to call an ambulance. Once the person is transported to the hospital, health care providers will remove excess clothing, provide fluids, and use other treatments, such as an ice sponge bath, to cool the patient.

“Don’t push it, be smart,” Ren said. “It’s rarely worth pushing yourself.”

In anticipation of the hotter summer months of July and August, the city of Houston has opened 47 cooling centers where residents can escape the heat.

List of City of Houston Cooling Centers:

Acres Homes Neighborhood Library
8501 W. Montgomery Road
noon-8 p.m.

Acres Homes Multi-Service Center
6719 W. Montgomery Road
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Alief Neighborhood Center
11903 Bellaire Boulevard
8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Blue Ridge Neighborhood Library
7007 W. Fuqua Street
12:00-8:00 p.m.

Bracewell Neighborhood Library
9002 Kingspoint Road,
noon-8 p.m.

Carnegie District Library
1050 Quitman Street
noon-8 p.m.

Central Library
500 McKinney Street
9am-6pm

Family History Research Center
5300 Caroline Street
10am-5pm

Collier Regional Library
6200 Pinemont Drive
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Port of Denver Full Service Center
6402, rue du Marché
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

TECHLink Dixon
8002, chemin Hirsch
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Fifth arrondissement multi-service center
4014, rue du Marché
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Flores Neighborhood Library
110 N. Milby Street
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

African American History Research Center
1300 Victor Street
10am-5pm

Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center
3810 W. Fuqua Street
8am-5pm

Heights Neighborhood Library
1302, boulevard des Hauteurs
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Hillendahl District Library
2436 Gessner Road
noon-8 p.m.

Houston Historical Research Center
550 McKinney Street
10am-5pm

Johnson Neighborhood Library
3517 Reed Road
noon-8 p.m.

Jungman District Library
5830 Westheimer Road
noon-8 p.m.

Kashmir Multi-Service Center
4802 Lockwood Drive
8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Kendall Neighborhood Library
609 N. Eldridge Drive
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Looscan neighborhood library
2510 Willowick Road
noon-8 p.m.

Magnolia Multi-Service Center
7037 Capitol Street
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Mancuso Neighborhood Library
6767 Bellfort Avenue
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Melcher District Library
7200 Keller Street
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Metropolitan Multiservice Center
1475 West, Gray Street
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Montrose District Library
4100 Montrose Boulevard
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Moody Neighborhood Library
9525 Irvington Boulevard
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Northeast Multi-Service Center
9720 Spaulding Street
8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Oak Forest Neighborhood Library
1349 West 43rd Street
noon-8 p.m.

Park Place Regional Library
8145 Park Place, Houston, Texas 77017
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Ring Neighborhood Library
8835 Long Point Drive
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Robinson-Westchase Neighborhood Library
3223 Wilcrest Drive
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Scenic Woods Regional Library
10677 Homestead Road
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Smith Neighborhood Library
3624 Scott Street
12:00-8:00 p.m.

South West Multi-Service Center
6400, High Star reader
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Stanaker Neighborhood Library
611 Staff Sgt. Macario Garcia Walk
noon-8 p.m.

Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center
4410 Reed Road
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

McGovern-Stella Link Regional Library
7405 Stella Link Road
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Third Ward Multi-Service Center
3611 Ennis Street
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tuttle Neighborhood Library
702 Kress Street
noon-8 p.m.

Vinson Neighborhood Library
3810 W. Fuqua Street
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Walker Neighborhood Library
5505 Belrose Drive
noon-8 p.m.

Walter District Library
7660 Clarewood Drive
12:00-8:00 p.m.

West End Multi-Service Center
170, boulevard des Hauteurs
8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Young neighborhood library
5107 Griggs Road
10 a.m.-6 p.m.