環(huán)球英語—827：Staying Safe in Hot Weather

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Welcome to Spotlight! I'm Liz Waid.
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And I'm Nick Page. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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Storms. Floods. Mudslides. Tsunamis. Earthquakes. Most people know about the dangers of these natural disasters. But there is another natural disaster that can be just as dangerous as any of these. It is the heat wave.
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In 2003, a heat wave in Europe caused over 2000 deaths in Portugal. This same heat wave caused the deaths of over 14,000 people in France and over 2000 people in the United Kingdom. Experts say that in the United States hot weather has killed more people in the last century than any other natural event. Every year people die from being too hot. People often do not recognize the changes in their bodies in hot weather. Or they may not know what to do to avoid the dangers of hot weather.
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On today's Spotlight we will share some ways that people can protect themselves from dangerous sicknesses that come from extremely hot weather.
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Many places experience heat waves every year. What is a heat wave? Well, a heat wave is simply a group of very hot days. Some heat waves last only a few days, but heat waves can last much longer. Heat waves are the most dangerous when they last for more than a few days.
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Experts say that heat causes the most damage when outside temperatures stay high, day to night. The middle of the day is usually the hottest. And then at night the temperature is cooler. A healthy person's body can adapt, or change, during the day so that hot weather is not as dangerous to his body. Then, at night, when the temperature is cool, his body can rest from the heat. But, if the temperature does not cool down at night, this causes serious problems for his body. His body has no time to recover.
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The human body reacts to heat through its own cooling system. Water inside our bodies brings heat to the surface of the skin. This heat comes out as sweat. The sweat on the outside of the body evaporates into the air. As the sweat evaporates off the body, the person gets cooler.
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This natural cooling system works well for short periods of time. But it is possible for a person to release too much water as sweat. If he does not put enough water back into his body, he could become dehydrated. Dehydration means 'lack of water.' It is one of the most common problems in hot weather or a heat wave. Someone who is dehydrated may have trouble thinking or working. This is because lack of water affects the working of the brain.
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Someone who is dehydrated should avoid working too hard and sweating. He should also drink lots of water. He needs to put water back into his body. If he does not, his dehydration could lead to more serious problems.
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Heat exhaustion is one possible result of dehydration. A person who has heat exhaustion may feel extremely tired. He may not be able to walk very well. He may feel sick. His skin may feel wet, even cold. The person may even collapse. But he will sweat a lot. His organs will not get the chemicals they need to work. And this could cause more problems.
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Heat exhaustion can develop quickly. But it may also develop slowly over a few days. Often, the victim may not even observe the changes and problems happening in his body.
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A person with heat exhaustion needs to stop working immediately. He needs to find a cool place to rest. He also needs to drink water. Experts say that water is most helpful to a person's body when a person sips it slowly. A person must put back the water he has lost from sweating. It helps if the water contains a little salt.
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If heat exhaustion goes untreated, it may develop into heat stroke. This is the most damaging and dangerous problem that comes from hot weather. During heat stroke a person's average body temperature rises to over 40 degrees Celsius. Usually, his body stops sweating. That is different from heat exhaustion. With heat stroke, the person's skin is dry and very hot to touch. His mind is affected. He may even lose consciousness and fall into a deep sleep. If his body temperature rises above 42 degrees, his body will even begin to damage his organs. This can result in permanent brain damage or even death! A person suffering from heat stroke must get treatment immediately.
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If you think someone is suffering from heat stroke, here is what you can do. Remove the person from the sun. Take off his clothes and pour cool water over his body. The water will begin to evaporate and help to cool him down. Then, if you have ice, place it on his skin under his arms and on his neck. Blood vessels are very close to the skin in these areas. The ice will help to cool his blood and his body.
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Many people may not recognize these signs of heat sicknesses. But it is important to know what they are and how to treat them.
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Here are some more suggestions from experts about how to stay safe in hot weather:
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Try to stay out of the sun, especially if you have light skin. Sun can badly burn a person's body. And it increases a person's risk of skin cancer. If you are in the sun and begin to feel sick, find shade immediately. Sit under a tree or go inside.
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Avoid eating hot or heavy food.
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Drink as much water as you can. Avoid alcohol, tea, coffee, and drinks with a lot of sugar. These make your body use more water then they provide.
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Wear light coloured clothes. Dark clothes soak up sunlight. They make a person feel hotter. And the clothes you wear should be just a little big for your body.
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Protect your eyes from the sun. Wear a hat or dark glasses to keep your eyes safe.
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Finally, if the weather is extremely hot protect the weaker members of your community. Extreme heat causes the most harm to people over sixty-five [65] years old and children who are less than four years old.
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It is important that people know and recognize the dangers of hot weather. Knowing these signs could help you save someone's life. They could even help you save your own! Be safe about hot weather.