Staying Safe in Hot Temperatures
2021-07-06
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2Hot weather kills hundreds of people every year.
3The World Health Organization estimates that from 1998 to 2017 more than 166,000 people died as a result of extreme heatwaves.
4That includes the more than 70,000 people who died during the 2003 heatwave in Europe.
5Yet, heat-related deaths and sickness are preventable.
6There are steps you can take to stay safe during periods of very high temperatures.
7Many things can affect your body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather.
8For example, when the humidity is high, body sweat will not dry as quickly.
9This restricts the body's ability to release heat.
10So, pay attention to not only the temperature in your area but also the level of humidity.
11Also, take note of nighttime temperatures.
12Experts say heat waves often become dangerous when the nighttime temperature does not drop much past the highest daytime temperature.
13Our bodies repair themselves at night when we sleep.
14So, hot nighttime temperatures put great pressure on the human body.
15Some foods and drugs can also affect the body's temperature.
16Alcohol, caffeine, and sugar, for example, can weaken the body's system for cooling itself.
17On its website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, explains that some people are at high risk of suffering from heat-related illnesses.
18A person's age and weight play a part in surviving high temperatures.
19People over 65 years of age and under the age of two are especially at risk of becoming sick from heat.
20Your general health is also important to consider.
21The CDC states that long-term diseases and conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and mental illness can put a person at greater risk.
22On its website the CDC also explains different types of heat-related illness - what to look for and what to do.
23They include heat rash, sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and, the most serious, heat stroke.
24These are the symptoms of heat exhaustion:
25heavy sweating
26cold, damp skin that looks lighter than usual
27fast, weak heartbeat
28feeling sick to your stomach, or nausea
29muscle pains, often called cramps
30tired and weak feeling
31dizziness
32headache
33passing out
34If you have these symptoms, you must move to a cool place, loosen your clothing, put a cool wet cloth on your body or take a cool bath and drink water.
35Get medical attention if you begin vomiting, or if your sickness worsens or lasts for more than an hour.
36The CDC calls heat stroke a medical emergency.
37Get medical help right away.
38These are the symptoms of heat stroke:
39high body temperature of 39.4 degrees Celsius or higher
40hot, red, dry, damp skin
41fast, strong heartbeat
42headache
43dizziness
44nausea
45confusion
46and passing out
47Experts at the CDC say that "everyone should take these steps to prevent heat-related illnesses, injuries, and death" when the weather is very hot:
48Stay inside in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible. Contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area, if possible.
49Drink a lot of water even if you do not feel thirsty.
50Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and use skin products that protect you from sunburn.
51Do not try to do too much outside. Plan your outdoor activities carefully.
52Get in cool water to lower your body temperature.
53Check on friends or neighbors, especially those at-risk. Have someone do the same for you.
54Never leave children or pets in cars.
55Check your local news for health and safety updates.
56Do not use heating elements, like indoor stoves and ovens, to cook food. This will make you and your house hotter.
57And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2Hot weather kills hundreds of people every year. The World Health Organization estimates that from 1998 to 2017 more than 166,000 people died as a result of extreme heatwaves. That includes the more than 70,000 people who died during the 2003 heatwave in Europe. 3Yet, heat-related deaths and sickness are preventable. There are steps you can take to stay safe during periods of very high temperatures. 4Many things can affect your body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather. 5For example, when the humidity is high, body sweat will not dry as quickly. This restricts the body's ability to release heat. So, pay attention to not only the temperature in your area but also the level of humidity. 6Also, take note of nighttime temperatures. Experts say heat waves often become dangerous when the nighttime temperature does not drop much past the highest daytime temperature. Our bodies repair themselves at night when we sleep. So, hot nighttime temperatures put great pressure on the human body. 7Some foods and drugs can also affect the body's temperature. Alcohol, caffeine, and sugar, for example, can weaken the body's system for cooling itself. 8On its website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, explains that some people are at high risk of suffering from heat-related illnesses. 9A person's age and weight play a part in surviving high temperatures. People over 65 years of age and under the age of two are especially at risk of becoming sick from heat. 10Your general health is also important to consider. The CDC states that long-term diseases and conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and mental illness can put a person at greater risk. 11On its website the CDC also explains different types of heat-related illness - what to look for and what to do. 12They include heat rash, sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and, the most serious, heat stroke. 13These are the symptoms of heat exhaustion: 14heavy sweating 15cold, damp skin that looks lighter than usual 16fast, weak heartbeat 17feeling sick to your stomach, or nausea 18muscle pains, often called cramps 19tired and weak feeling 20dizziness 21headache 22passing out 23If you have these symptoms, you must move to a cool place, loosen your clothing, put a cool wet cloth on your body or take a cool bath and drink water. Get medical attention if you begin vomiting, or if your sickness worsens or lasts for more than an hour. 24The CDC calls heat stroke a medical emergency. Get medical help right away. These are the symptoms of heat stroke: 25high body temperature of 39.4 degrees Celsius or higher 26hot, red, dry, damp skin 27fast, strong heartbeat 28headache 29dizziness 30nausea 31confusion 32and passing out 33Experts at the CDC say that "everyone should take these steps to prevent heat-related illnesses, injuries, and death" when the weather is very hot: 34Stay inside in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible. Contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area, if possible. 35Drink a lot of water even if you do not feel thirsty. 36Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and use skin products that protect you from sunburn. 37Do not try to do too much outside. Plan your outdoor activities carefully. 38Get in cool water to lower your body temperature. 39Check on friends or neighbors, especially those at-risk. Have someone do the same for you. 40Never leave children or pets in cars. 41Check your local news for health and safety updates. 42Do not use heating elements, like indoor stoves and ovens, to cook food. This will make you and your house hotter. 43And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo. 44Anna Matteo used several websites to collect this information for VOA Learning English. The infographics are all courtesy of the World Health Organization. Caty Weaver was the editor. 45______________________________________________________________ 46Words in This Story 47humidity - n. wetness in the air: the amount of wetness in the air 48sweat - n. to produce a clear liquid from your skin when you are hot or nervous 49vomit - v. to have the food, liquid, etc., that is in your stomach come out through your mouth because you are sick 50pass out - v. to fall asleep or become unconscious 51symptom - n. a noticeable change in the body or its functions that indicates the presence of a disease or other disorder 52damp - adj. somewhat or slightly wet 53dizziness - n. a condition in which you feel like you are turning around in circles and are going to fall even though you are standing still 54air-conditioned - adj. a space that has a mechanical system used for cooling and drying the air in a building, room, etc.