WTEN: Local Doctor’s Recommendations for Extreme Heat

The Capital Region recently experienced an unseasonal blast of summer heat after weeks of relatively cool weather. Robert Brewer, M.D., associate director of emergency medicine at St. Peter’s Hospital, spoke to WTEN/New10 about how the dramatic temperature increase can affect people, especially those who are vulnerable to extreme heat.

From the report:

Dr. Robert Brewer, associate director of emergency medicine at St. Peter’s Hospital has a few reminders to keep cool. “People aren’t used to this heat so they’ll get overheated very quickly,” he explained. “Making sure when you’re active, you’re sweating. Sweating is a natural mechanism to cool the body down. If you’re not sweating, that could be a big problem really quickly.”

Staying hydrated with water or sports drinks with electrolytes will help your body stay cool. The heat exhaustion symptoms to watch out for include dizziness, fatigue, and nausea. Dr. Brewer added, “If you start feeling that way you need to remove yourself, sit in a shaded area or air-conditioned building.”

The group he is most concerned about during extreme heat is the elderly, who have chronic medical problems. Dr. Brewer explained they are at a much greater risk for both heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Click here to watch WTEN’s report.