An area health center is urging residents to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion.

According to Katy Trail Community Health, heat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt, usually through excessive sweating.

Heat exhaustion is most likely to affect:
— The elderly;
— People with high blood pressure; and
— Those working in a hot environment.

You can treat a worker who has heat exhaustion by:
— Taking the worker to a clinic or emergency room for medical evaluation and treatment;
— Calling 9-1-1 if medical care is unavailable;
— Having someone stay with the worker until help arrives;
— Removing the worker from the hot area and give him/her liquids to drink;
— Removing unnecessary clothing, including shoes and socks;
— Cooling the worker with cold compresses or have the worker wash their head, face and neck with cold water;
— And encouraging them to take frequent sips of cool water.

You can learn more at <https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/heatrelillness.html>.