Even healthy people are susceptible to heat exhaustion

There’s a heat wave in effect across Metro Vancouver this week and even young and healthy people can be susceptible to heat exhaustion if they are not careful.

While this week’s temperatures are not out of the ordinary for B.C.’s south coast around this time of year, many may find themselves feeling unwell and overheated.

Dr. James Lu, a medical health officer with Vancouver Coastal Health, says younger people may have an easier time recognizing the early signs of heat exhaustion, while those who are older and less sensitive may not realize they’re dehydrated.

“You just feel very tired, dizzy, sometimes faint and rather weak. You might be sweating profusely but still not getting tired — or you may not be,” he told Postmedia this week. “You may simply be feeling very hot in your skin; you’ve sweat it out and you don’t have any more sweat to produce.”

Lu said people should check on seniors living nearby and elderly relatives, and be mindful of young children playing outside and anyone with an illness to monitor for possible dehydration.

A person who thinks they may have heat exhaustion should go somewhere cooler, such as a shaded or air-conditioned area, drink lots of cold water and try to cool down however they can.

“If you’re wearing kind of tight clothing, loosen your clothing up,” said Lu. “If you can take a cool bath, a shower works.”

A cold, damp cloth placed on your skin — face, neck, arms, anywhere with a large amount of surface area — can help to cool your body temperature.

“Anyone who is out in the sun too long can face dehydration,” Lu said.