Public health officials say a third heated-related death has been confirmed in Delaware.
The Department of Health and Social Services said Tuesday that the medical examiner ruled that the death of a 95-year-old New Castle County woman was heat related.
Officials say the woman was found dead in her Newark home on Sunday, and that heat exposure was a factor in her death.
An 87-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man also died in Delaware last week partly due to heat exposure.
The Delaware Department of Health and Social services provided the following tips to prevent heat illness:
- Do not leave a child alone in a parked car, even for a minute. Call 911 if you see a child left unattended in a vehicle.
- Check in on seniors and individuals with disabilities to make sure they are OK.
- Carry water with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks containing sugar, alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body. (Check with a doctor before increasing fluid intake if you have epilepsy, heart, kidney or liver disease, or if you are on a fluid-restrictive diet. Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.)
- Stay indoors on the lowest floor possible to avoid the heat.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Wear a hat or use an umbrella. Use sunscreen. Sunburn slows the skin's ability to cool itself, and has been linked to skin cancer.
- Avoid extreme temperature changes. A cold shower immediately after coming in from hot temperatures can lead to hypothermia, particularly for the elderly and children.
The following symptoms are signs of heat exhaustion:
- Dehydration
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Clammy Skin
- Headache
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Fast Breathing
- Irritability
- Fainting
To prevent heat exhaustion, experts recommend moving indoors or into the shade, loosening or removing clothing, eating and drinking, taking a cool shower or bath and calling your doctor for further medical advice.
The following symptoms are signs of heatstroke(the body can no longer cool itself):
- Flushed, hot, dry skin with no sweating
- High body temperatures(above 13 degrees F orally)
- Severe headache
- Weakness, dizziness or confusion
- Sluggishness or fatigue
- Decreased responsiveness
- Loss of consciousness
If you or anyone you know exhibit any of these symptoms, call 911, go indoors or in the shade, take a cool shower or bath and take fluids.
