Heat cramps - muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. Heat cramps are an early signal that the body is having trouble with the heat.

Heat exhaustion - typically occurs when body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If not treated, the victim may suffer heat stroke.

Signals of heat exhaustion include:
- cool, moist, pale flushed or red skin
- heavy sweating
- headache
- nausea or vomiting
- dizziness and exhaustion
- Body temperature will be near normal.

Heat stroke - also known as sunstroke - is life-threatening. The body's temperature control system, which produces sweat to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.

Signals include:
- hot, red and dry skin
- changes in consciousness
- rapid, weak pulse
- rapid, shallow breathing
- Body temperature can be very high, up to 105 degrees F.

General Care for Heat Illnesses

Heat cramps or heat exhaustion -

- Get the person to a cooler place and have them rest in a comfortable position.

- If they are fully awake and alert, give half a glass of cool water every 15 minutes.

- Do not let them drink too quickly. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine.

- Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets.

- Call 911 or the local emergency number if the person refuses water, vomits or loses consciousness.

Heat stroke -

- Help is needed fast - call 911 or your local emergency number.

- Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it.

- Watch for signals of breathing problems.

- Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can.

- If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

Excessive heat watch - there's a 50 percent or greater probability that maximum heat index values will be at least 115 degrees in 12 to 48 hours.

Excessive heat warning - there's an 80 percent or greater probability that maximum heat index values will meet or exceed 115 degrees in 12 to 24 hours.

Heat advisory - maximum heat index values of 105 to 114 degrees are expected for at least 2 hours.

Get more information here from the National Weather Service, including safety information and fatality statistics.

- Slow down. - Strenuous or outdoor activities should be reduced, eliminated, or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day (early morning or late evening). Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.

- Dress for summer. - Lightweight light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures.

- Eat smaller meals more often - Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods (like proteins) that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.

- Drink plenty of water, sports drinks or other non-alcohol fluids. - Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty. (Persons who (1) have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease, (2) are on fluid restrictive diets or (3) have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids.)

- Do not drink alcoholic beverages, coffee, tea and soft drinks, which dehydrate the body.

- Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.

- Use a fan to circulate the air. - Even if you have air conditioning, a fan which keeps the air moving, will let you set the thermostat several degrees higher and still be comfortable. If you have ceiling fans, set them to rotate in a clockwise position so they are blowing the cool air down into the room.

- Spend more time in air-conditioned places. - Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the heat.

- If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor of the building, away from sunshine, and use a fan. Visit friends or public places that are air-conditioned for some time each day.

- Don’t get too much sun. - Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult. Apply sunscreen often while outside.

- Check on neighbors and relatives who are vulnerable to the heat.

- Do not keep children or pets inside vehicles, even with the windows rolled down some. Temperatures inside cars can reach well above 150 degrees.

- Take car of your furry friends - During walks, let your dog walk on the grass instead of the hot pavement, and take along cool water for them. If they must stay outside, be sure your pets and livestock have some shade and plenty of cool water.

- Minimize house-heating activities - do laundry in the evening and avoid using the oven. Use shades on your windows to keep the sun's heat out.

- Victims of heat-related illnesses should be moved to a cool place and be given cool water and ice packs or cool wet cloths to put on the skin. Call 911 immediately if the person refuses water, starts vomiting or loses consciousness.

Get more information on heat safety here from the Coastal Health District.