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During Thursday night’s graduation ceremony at Deer Valley High School in Antioch, a total of 6-patients were treated with 2-paitents requiring a medical transport to a local hospital for heat related illnesses according to Contra Costa County Fire Protection District spokesman Robert Marshall.
The ceremony began at 6:00 p.m. and was expected to last about 90-minutes. The gates opened for entrance at 4:30 p.m. Yesterday’s high in Antioch was 86 degrees according to Weather.com
According to American Medical Response, here are some tips on preventing heat related illness:
- Know the warning signs of heat stroke. These include an extremely high body temperature of above 103° F; red, hot and dry skin with no sweating; rapid, strong pulse; throbbing headache; dizziness; nausea; confusion; and unconsciousness.
- Those at the greatest risk for heat-related illness include infants, children up to four years old, adults age 65 and older, people who are overweight, people who are ill and those on certain medications.
- During hot weather, drink more liquid than your thirst indicates. Avoid drinks containing alcohol or caffeine because they will actually cause you to lose more fluid.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to going outdoors and continue to reapply periodically. Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool itself and causes a loss of body fluids.
- Some medications can increase the risk of heat-related illness. The risk may increase for those using psychotropics (e.g. haloperidol or chlorpromazine), medications for Parkinson’s Disease because they can inhibit perspiration, and tranquilizers (e.g. phenothiazines, butyrophenones and thiozanthenes.)
