Dr. Terrell Jenrette offers tips to keep your cool
ROME, Ga., June 13, 2024 – With the daily highs going from delightful to detestable in northwest Georgia, it's time for people who play or work outdoors – especially seniors and young children – to take some steps to keep from being beaten by the heat.
Children under 2 and adults 65 and over tend to overheat easier than the rest of the population, so they need to be monitored during severely hot weather. It's important to be mindful of staying hydrated and safe to avoid heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
“Heat issues are common when the high temperatures top 90 degrees. Most heat-related health problems can be prevented if you take precautions," said Dr. Terrell Jenrette, a physician at Atrium Health Floyd Primary Care Family Medicine in Rockmart.
Heat exhaustion is often accompanied by nausea, light-headedness, fatigue, muscle cramping and dizziness.
Heat stroke carries many of the same signs and symptoms, only worse. These include vomiting, confusion, an increase in heart rate, headache, and in serious cases, loss of consciousness.
“If you experience any of those symptoms you need to do something immediately to cool down your body," said Jenrette. “Try to find an air-conditioned building. Take a cold show or bath, and make sure you drink plenty of water."
It's best to avoid caffeine and soft drinks because they can cause you to urinate, possibly increasing problems that come from being dehydrated.
Other simple common-sense tips to prevent heat stroke include:
- Avoid prolonged time in the heat.
- Take breaks from outdoor activity - instead of mowing the yard all at once, take a break. Go inside, cool off and have a glass of water.
- Exercise early in the morning or later in the day when it is cooler.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing made of breathable fabrics.
- Be especially cautious if you are taking blood pressure or heart medication or diuretics
- Never leave anyone unattended in a vehicle in hot weather
About Atrium Health Floyd
The Atrium Health Floyd family of health care services is a leading medical provider and economic force in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd is part of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Floyd employs more than 3,500 teammates who provide care in over 40 medical specialties at three hospitals: Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center – a 304-bed full-service, acute care hospital and regional referral center in Rome, Georgia; Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center in Cedartown, Georgia; and Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center in Centre, Alabama; as well as Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Behavioral Health – a freestanding 53-bed behavioral health facility in Rome – and also primary care and urgent care network locations throughout northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd also operates a stand-alone emergency department in Chattooga County, the first such facility to be built from the ground-up in Georgia.
About Atrium Health
Atrium Health is a nationally recognized leader in shaping health outcomes through innovative research, education and compassionate patient care. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Atrium Health is part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, which was created from the combination with Advocate Aurora Health. A recognized leader in experiential medical education and groundbreaking research, Wake Forest University School of Medicine is its academic core. Atrium Health is renowned for its top-ranked pediatric, cancer and heart care, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Atrium Health is also a leading-edge innovator in virtual care and mobile medicine, providing care close to home and in the home. Ranked nationally among U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals in eight pediatric specialties and for rehabilitation, Atrium Health has also received the American Hospital Association's Quest for Quality Prize and its 2021 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award, as well as the 2020 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Equity Award for its efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in care. With a commitment to every community it serves, Atrium Health seeks to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – for all, providing $2.8 billion last year in free and uncompensated care and other community benefits.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation's largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $6 billion in annual community benefits.