professionals - heatwaves - response

e-Learning in Heat waves

Professionals

e-Learning for the Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural Disasters

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ResponseIn the following, you will be presented with information on how to respond:• During a Heat wave:• How to convey knowledge and information to other stakeholders.• How to implement the plan of action.• How to look after yourself.

• After (recovery):• How to Implement recovery plans. • How to convey knowledge and information to other stakeholders.• Awareness of the dangers after a natural disaster.


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During the responseDuring a heat wave, you can help others to get more safely through it. The following are some ideas of how to help a person at risk of serious health effects from hot weather during a heat wave.For the person you can: • Check that they’re drinking plenty of

water – encourage them if necessary and place water in the fridge. A good way to check whether they are drinking enough is to get them to check the colour of their urine. If it is pale, they are drinking enough.

• Check that they know who to contact if extra care and support is needed.

• Talk to their family and friends and let them know how to best support their family member.

• If you think they’re not coping arrange a visit to their GP for them.

• Check that they have a care plan with information on how much they should drink (especially if the person is on a fluid restriction). If the information is not there, call their GP to discuss.

• Check that they have enough food for the next few days and if not, help them to arrange this.

• Check that they are wearing light, loose-fitting clothing.

• Check that they have cool packs in the fridge or else cool wet cloths available.


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During the response• Watch the video on the next slide for tips for coping in

Heatwaves


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Help others• Consider offering to take them to a cool place like a shopping centre, library or cinema.• Remind them to do household chores early in the morning before the weather gets hot.• Encourage them to pursue activities that are easily done indoors such as reading, sewing, listening to radio programs.


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Help othersFor the house or apartment you can encourage them to:• Check that the fridge, freezer, fan and air-

conditioner work properly and that the air-conditioner is set to cool.

• Close windows, curtains, blinds and shutters early in the day before the weather gets hot.

• Arrange for or remind them to ventilate their room or home as soon as the temperature outside drops, e.g. in the late evening or early in the morning.

• Spend most of their time in the coolest room in the house during very hot weather.


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Heat-related illnessesHeat-related illness includes dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and worsening of existing medical conditions. If you have a medical condition such as heart disease, diabetes, or kidney disease and if you take certain medications, heat can make your symptoms worse. No matter what heat-related illness, the best way to prevent it is to drink plenty of water and to stay as cool as possible.Some illnesses or conditions can occur as a direct result of excessive heat, such as heat rash, cramps, exhaustion, heat stroke and exertion heat stroke. However worsening of chronic conditions contributes to the majority of heat-related morbidity and mortality.


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Heat-related illnesses• Watch the video on the next slide to see how your body

responds to Heatwaves


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Heat-related illnessesDehydrationEven mild dehydration leads to an increased risk of injury, heat stress and poorer performance of complex tasks. Cardiac levels are increased by mild to moderate dehydration and can lead to reduced fluid available for sweating. A person can sweat up to 15 litres per day and it is important to note that thirst does not match fluids lost by sweating, even when fluids are freely taken.

Symptoms What to do – first aid

• Dizziness• Tiredness• Irritability• Thirst• Bright or dark yellow urine• Loss of appetite• Fainting

• Drink plenty of water or diluted fruit juice (1 part juice in 4 parts water). Avoid tea, coffee or alcohol

• Move somewhere cool, ideally somewhere air-conditioned• If possible, use a spray bottle of water to cool yourself down• If you start to feel unwell, seek medical advice


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Heat-related illnessesHeat crampsHeat cramps usually affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity such as sport, work or gardening in hot weather. The sweating causes the body to lose salt and water. Low salt level in the muscles may be the cause of heat cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.


• Muscle pains or spasms • Stop all activity and lie in a cool place, legs slightly raised• Drink water or diluted fruit juice (1 part juice in 4 parts water)• Have a cool shower or bath• Massage your limbs to ease spasms and apply cool packs• Do not return to strenuous activity for a few hours after the cramps

subside (exertion may lead to heat exhaustion/heat stroke)


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Heat-related illnessesHeat exhaustionHeat exhaustion is the body’s response to an excessive loss of water and salt contained in sweat. Those most at risk of developing heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with chronic diseases, and people working or exercising in a hot environment. If heat exhaustion is not treated it can turn into heat stroke.


• Heavy sweating (cool and moist skin)

• Pale skin• Fast and weak pulse rate• Breathing fast and shallow• Muscle weakness or cramps• Tiredness• Dizziness• Headache• Nausea and vomiting• Fainting

• Move to a cool place, if possible to an air-conditioned room and lie down• Remove excess clothing• Take small sips of cool fluids• Cool shower, bath or sponge bath• Put cool packs under armpits, on the groin or on the back of the neck to reduce body heat• If symptoms worsen or if there is no improvement, seek urgent medical advice and call an

ambulance if necessary


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Heat-related illnessesHeat strokeThe body temperature is not controlled properly in a person with heat stroke. It occurs when the body temperature rises above 40.5°C. Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency. Immediate first aid is very important and the aim is to lower body temperature as quickly as possible.


• A sudden rise in body temperature• Pale skin• Red, hot and dry skin (sweating has

stopped)• Dry, swollen tongue• Rapid pulse• Rapid shallow breathing• Intense thirst• Headache• Nausea and vomiting• Confusion, poor coordination or slurred

speech• Aggressive or bizarre behaviour• Los of consciousness• Seizures or coma

• Immediately call 999 (or relevant national emergency numbers) and ask for an ambulance• Get the person in to the shade, lay them down and keep them as still as possible • Give small sips of cool fluids if conscious and able to drink• Bring their temperature down using any method available (sponging with cool water, cool shower,

spraying with cool water from the garden hose or soaking clothes with cool water• Put cool pack under armpits, on the groin or on the back of the neck to reduce body heat• Do not give aspirin or paracetamol; they do not help and might be harmful• If unconscious, lay the person on their side (recovery position) and check they can breathe properly • Perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if needed


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Heat-related illnessesHeat stroke


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Heat-related illnesses• Watch the video on the next slide to see what happens

when you get Heat Stroke


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Heat-related illnessesThe majority of heat-related morbidity and mortality is due to worsening of existing chronic conditions. The following conditions contribute to the most common causes of death during a heat wave:• Cardiac events• Asthma or other respiratory illness• Kidney disease• Diabetes • Nervous system diseases• CancerDehydration and subsequent medication toxicity may worsening the following conditions:• Altered mental state• Kidney stones• Cardiovascular impairment• Falls


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Heat-related illnessesHeat and medicationA number of prescribed medications can increase the risk of heat-related illness. Also, some medications can be less effective or more toxic when exposed to and stored in high temperatures. Most medications need to be stored below 25°C or in the fridge if indicated. This applies particularly to antibiotics, adrenergic drugs, insulin, analgesics and sedatives. It is important for health professionals to discuss the correct use and storage of medications with people who take regular prescription medications as part of their care plan for hot weather.


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AccidentsFiresAs mentioned before climate change influences the rise in the environmental temperature. Starting from the end of year 1800 the average air temperature on Earth has risen 0.74°C. The warming process develops differently in different areas of the Earth: in tropics – slower: in middle and polar latitudes – faster. Heat waves and droughts happen more frequently and last longer. The last decade (2002-2011 years) was particularly hot. Drought and heat waves are causing more and more fires of forests, peat lands and grass.

Drought High temperature

Low humidity High fire risk Forest fires


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AccidentsForest firesFor more than 500 years, the number of forest fires has risen 10 times. Every year around 400,000 forest fires occur in different places of the Earth. They destroy or damage around 0.5 percent of the total forest area. The increase in forest fires is associated with an increase in the number of people, with an intensifying advanced tourism industry and great increase in areas of uncultivated land.


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Accidents• Watch the video on the next slide to see what Climate

Change looks like


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AccidentsIn order to be properly prepared for forest fires prediction or forecasting is important. The main purpose of forecasting forest fires is to predict the likelihood of fire according to meteorological variables; the amount of rainfall, air temperature, and relative humidity. In Lithuania for example forest fires are predicted by the Complex fire (fire hazard) rate. It is based on two types of temperature; the air temperature and the dew point. Then the indicator are adjusted with respect to the amount of rainfall. The complex index is calculated daily throughout the period when the forest fires may occur.


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AccidentsUnderground or peaty soil fires can cause the ignition of the organic part of the soil. Almost all large fires in peat lands appear and rise due to extreme weather conditions; droughts or heat waves. During an intense drought, flammable material dries not only on the surface of the land and below it, but also in forest areas which are usually the barriers for spreading the fire (river valleys, swamps, and other highly humid areas). The probability of fires increases in dry seasons and the possibility of firefighting decreases. It is very difficult to extinguish fires in swampy forests during the drought where there are large stocks of organic matter.


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AccidentsUnderground fires usually spread very slowly and extinguishing them can be difficult.The best way to prevent fires in peatlands is to conserve them in their natural state, with particular attention paid to appropriate land-uses and sustainable forest management. This means preventing draining and coversion of peat areas. The preventing of fires in peat lands can be done through prohibition of use of any fire in peat soils.


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AccidentsDrowningHeat waves not only increase the risk of forest fires and fires of open places, but also lead to an increase in the number of people drowning. During the summer each year, especially when the air temperature rises significantly, the number of drowning victims increases. Despite the fact that every year rescuers asks people to be careful in the water. Most often children between 5 and 14 years old are victims of drowning.


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AccidentsThe main reasons of drowning:• The use of alcohol• Ignorance of alerts and prohibitions to swim• Children left unattended• Overestimated strength and ability to swim• Careless behavior in water (jumping into the

water at unfamiliar waters, etc.)The main rules for water safety:• Do not drink fluids that contain alcohol• Do not swim in strongly waving seas• You should not leave children unattended• Do not swim or jump in water that is in

unfamiliar or in remote areas• Do not swim immediately after meals• If you are being overheated in the sun, do not

jump into cold water suddenly.


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AccidentsDuring heat waves lots of people tend to spend their free time close to open waters and unfortunately they drown more frequently than usual.If you see a drowning man:• Call the emergency number 999• Try to shout and draw attention of the surrounding people especially lifeguards• Look around for any rescue or lifebelt measures (rescue wheel, boat, mattress, etc.)• If possible, try to reach a person who is drowning by hand, a thick tree branch or drop them a rope


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Power cutHeat waves can cause power cuts e.g. due to the expanding of electrical lines resulting in decrease in power.The following are some things you can do, but can also advise the people in your community to do in case of a power cut.


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Power cutWhat to do in a power cut:• Check out the neighbour’s house – If your

neighbours still have power but your home / office doesn’t, it is likely that the problem lies with your own fuses or trip switches. If the whole area is out then contact your local energy supplier – dial 105 - to inform them (make sure you have the number in the contact list in your emergency plan), or if they are already aware they may be able to provide more detail on the incident, i.e. cause and estimated time of outage.

• Switch off appliances – Unplug sensitive appliances such as TVs, satellite equipment and computers. Switch off all electrical appliances that may have been in use when the supply was interrupted, but should not be left unattended such as cookers.


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Power cut• Leave a light switched on – Leave, or switch on, at least

one light switched on so you will know when the power has been restored.

• Limit the use of your laptop or mobile phone – Don’t use your devices unnecessarily to save battery power. Use a battery powered or wind-up radio to tune into news updates.

• Avoid opening your fridge or freezer more than necessary – Leave your fridge door closed if possible until the supply is restored. Chilled products should remain safe for a number of hours. Freezers should remain sufficiently cold to keep products safe for several hours. It is also worth noting that a full freezer will stay colder for longer, so if your freezer is only partially full then consider freezing containers of water to fill the void space.


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Power cut• Other sources of lighting – Ensure you have a battery powered or wind-up torch close at hand and that the batteries are working. If you are going to use candles, paraffin or gas lamps then please take care. Consider the following:• Place them on a stable non-

combustible surface where they can’t be knocked off.• Place them away from curtains

and soft furnishings.• Do not leave them unattended.


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Power cut• Advice your community on looking after pets – Most pets

will not be affected by a power interruption, but you may want to contact your local pet shop or RSPCA for advice if you own tropical fish, unusual or exotic animals. If the power is off for only a short period of time then most tropical fish will be unaffected. Mains-operated air pumps, filters and heaters in fish tanks will not work while the electricity is off, so for longer power outages you may want to consider the following:• Unplugging your filters to prevent toxins building up. You

are advised to clean the filters before using them again.• Consider buying a bubble up filter than can be run off a

battery powered air pump as a back-up.• For insulation, wrap blankets around the outside of the tank.• To keep oxygen in the tank, periodically disturb the water

with your finger or alternatively fill a cup full of water from the tank and pour it back in.


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Power cut• Check on elderly or vulnerable in

your community – Ensure elderly or vulnerable neighbours are safe and comfortable.

• When power is restored turn your appliances back on one at a time. Remember, if you have any electric clocks, alarm clocks or video recorders, these may need resetting.

• Also remember that door bells and alarm systems may not work when your supply is interrupted. Many alarm systems have battery back-ups, i.e. hardwired smoke alarms, but a power outage may mean these don’t work correctly.


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Helping animalsHelping wildlifeProvide water but not food. Leave bowls of fresh, clean water out in shady locations. Shallow dishes are better for smaller animals. If you use a large container make sure to provide a rock or stick so that small animals can climb out. Place the container in an area where animals are protected from predators when drinking e.g. near a shrub or bush and keep your pets away from this area so that animals can drink undisturbed.Unless advised to by a registered wildlife carer or veterinarian, don’t attempt to feed wild animals.


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Helping animalsHow you can recognize heat-stressed animals:• Animals stressed by the heat will often behave differently than normal. They may lose their balance, collapse or appear confused. • Animals that are mainly active at night (e.g. possums) may come out during the day and animals that usually live in trees (e.g. bats, birds etc.) may be seen on the ground.


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Helping animalsRescuing stressed animals• Keep a cardboard box and a towel handy as well as phone numbers of local

wildlife carer organisations or veterinarians in case you find an injured animal.• Remember that just being near wild animals creates stress in them. Therefore

do not approach unless necessary and keep handling to an absolute minimum.• Do not put yourself in danger and don’t touch bats or flying foxes – a bite from

a bat carrying lyssavirus can cause serious illness and even death in unvaccinated people.

• If you do rescue an animal suffering from heat stress and dehydration, wrap it loosely in a towel, place in a cardboard box and offer water to drink. Spraying with a fine mist of water can help to cool the animal down. Leave in a dark, cool and quiet place and seek advice and assistance.

• Be sure to record the exact location of where the animal was found so that it can be returned to the area when it recovers.


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Helping animalsHelping petsIt is important to keep yourself cool and healthy during extremely hot weather, but it is also important to think about pets. Like people, animals can suffer heatstroke in hot weather if they aren’t kept cool.Following is some advice you can provide for the people in your community with pets.


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Helping animalsHow to look after pets:• If possible, bring your pets inside when it is

very hot.• If they can’t be left inside, make sure there are

some sheltered shady spots in the garden where your pet can rest.

• Don’t leave pets in closed garden sheds or garages, as these can heat up very quickly on a hot day.

• Make sure your pets have plenty of clean, fresh water to drink and that it is not placed in the sun. Consider having two drinking bowls in case one runs out of water or gets knocked over.

• Don’t let your dog walk on hot surfaces (pavements, bitumen roads, hot sand), as their paws are sensitive and can get burnt.

• Never leave pets alone in a car in any circumstance, even if the windows are partly open.

What to do if pet shows signs of heat stress?• If your pet shows signs of heat stress

(sweating, panting and drooling, tongue hanging out) move them to a cool place and try to get them to drink water, even if you have to pour some into their mouth.

• If a dog shows signs of being overheated, the best way to cool it off is to get it to stand in water up to its belly. Dogs will cool off faster this way than being sprayed with water.

• Old or very young animals can get stressed very quickly during hot weather and need watching carefully for signs that they may be heat stressed.

• Contact a vet without delay if you are worried that your animal is suffering from the heat. This could save your pet’s life.


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BehaviourIn fire fighting situations it is essential to remain as effective as possible, often for many hours. A significant number of heat stress cases arise from the fire-fighter’s own behaviour. Careful behaviour is the first line of defence against premature fatigue and heat illness. By far the greatest heat load arises from physical work. Avoid overheating by:• Drinking water frequently to reduce dehydration• Walking not running• Sharing heavy work loads and have crew rotation• Keeping environmental heat loads as low as possible• Working at a comfortable distance from the fire, when possible• Wearing appropriate clothing• Schedule training, when possible, during the coolest part of day• Take more breaks in extreme heat and humidity• Always train and work with a fellow fire-fighter• Gradually build up to heavy work through acclimatization


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BehaviourDrink plentyAvoiding or minimizing dehydration by frequent water intake is the single most important method of maintaining good function on the fire ground. Sweat losses on the fire ground usually exceed one litre per hour and will rapidly lead to dehydration, resulting in premature fatigue and eventually heat exhaustion. Sweat must be replaced by frequent water intake in small amounts. Avoid consuming large volumes of water at one time.• Increase your body fluid levels before work commences, particularly

in hot conditions• Fire-fighters should start drinking water before the shift begins and

continue to drink water during the shift• Drink water frequently (at least 150-200 ml every 10-15 minutes)• Drink enough water that you never become thirsty• Ensure clean supply of water is available• Do not drink any alcohol as it dehydrates the body• Avoid excessive amounts of tea or coffee as both tend to increase

dehydration


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Your teammateLooking after your mateAll fire-fighters should assist and monitor the well being of their fellow fire-fighters by:• Sharing work loads when

appropriate• Encouraging others to pace

themselves• Making sure others drink

frequently• Watching for signs of fatigue

and heat illness in others• Rotating crews regularly


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First aidAny fire-fighter who feels excessively fatigued or unwell or any fire-fighter who is noticed by others to be affected by heat illness should:• Stop work• Move to a cooler place, in the shade

with a breeze• Remove as much clothing as

reasonable• Sit or lie down. If feeling faint, lie

with legs elevated• Drink plenty of fluids (preferably

water)• Sponge skin with water and fan to

increase evaporative cooling

http://www.rhsb.com/wp-content/uploads/heat-stroke.jpg


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After the responseThe following are some ideas of what you could do after a heat wave.For the citizens on a personal level you can: • Discuss with the citizens what could have

been done better to help them get through.• Also discuss this with the person’s family

and identify ways to increase the person’s support if needed.

• Write down possible improvements for the next heat wave.

Regarding their house or apartment you can:• Go through the checklist on the previous

pages and note down improvements that can be made in the person’s house or apartment.


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EvaluatingAfter the response, in the recovery phase, you should evaluate the effort and decisions made during the response. This is the process where you really learn and improve your response and also you move around the disaster management cycle and can improve your prevention and preparedness in relation to the response.You should discuss with your teammates, leaders and others involved in the response; what was good, what was not so good and what you can do better next time. Remember to write it down and bring forward the original plan you had and change it according to the evaluation.

Mitigation (prevention)

Preparedness

Response

Recovery

Disaster management cycle


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This educational resource has been produced by the partners of the e-PPR Project (e-Learning for the Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Natural Disasters) with the support of the Erasmus+ programme.

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professionals - heatwaves - response

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