RALEIGH — As recreational and school sports seasons get underway, it is important to emphasize safety for players and for coaches. According to the National Center for Catastrophic Injury Research at the University of North Carolina, heat stroke is the third leading cause of death among athletes in the United States. Data compiled by the Center shows that 42 football players alone – 31 in high schools – have died from heat stroke across the country since 1995.

The N.C. Division of Public Health has sent a document to youth sports groups statewide to make coaches and young athletes aware of precautions they can take to avoid heat-related illness.   The document may be found on their Injury Prevention website:  www.ncpublichealth.com/chronicdiseaseandinjury/heat.htm

Just a quick post to explain what is a heat index.

When your body becomes hot from ambient temperature (the thermometer reading outside) and muscle movement (exercise or work), we get rid of the body heat by sweating. The sweat on the surface of our bodies goes from water phase to gas phase and in doing so takes heat with it. Well if the air is already humid, that process of evaporation is hindered.

So when the air is humid, the body feels hotter than the thermometer measures. Hence, the index adds the effect of the humidity to the thermometer reading. So they say it’s 99oF but the heat index is 105oF.

Again, go to www.readyguilford.org for information related to preparing for high heat events.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory today for our area with forecasted heat indices to range from 105- 109 degrees this afternoon. Please see below from the National Weather Service:

…HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING…

A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 7 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL PUSH HEAT INDEX VALUES UP TO 105 TO 109 DEGREES FOR A FEW HOURS THIS AFTERNOON.

For more information about how to prepare and respond to high heat events, please see the Ready Guilford Website at www.readyguilford.com

Specific tips for avoiding heat injuries are located on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s web site at:
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/heat_guide.asp.

State Scientists Collecting Fish and Shellfish Samples in Preparation for Any Potential Effects from Gulf Oil Spill

N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Release: Immediate                             Contact: Patricia Smith

Date:       June 24, 2010                         Phone: (252) 726-7021

MOREHEAD CITY – State fisheries scientists are collecting samples of fish and shellfish to use for baseline background comparisons for seafood harvested in North Carolina if contaminants from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico reach North Carolina waters.

“We still believe there is a very low probability that our state will see any significant effects from the oil spill, but just in case, we’re collecting these samples and securing them for analysis at a later date,” said Secretary Dee Freeman of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Biologists with the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries are collecting fish, shrimp and crabs from different coastal rivers, sounds and ocean waters of the state, following specific scientific collection protocols for handling and storing the samples.

Likewise, environmental specialists with the Shellfish Sanitation and Recreational Quality Section of the N.C. Division of Environmental Health are collecting oysters and clams.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has caused extremely large amounts of crude oil to be released into the environment. Oil contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are chemical hazards. These contaminants can accumulate in seafood at levels that can cause illness. The presence of petroleum taint can also render seafood unfit for human consumption.

Additionally, fish or shellfish exposure to high concentrations of these toxins, either directly or through eating contaminated plants or animals, may reduce their growth and reproduction, affecting populations. These effects can last for many years, depending on the concentration of oil.

Should state authorities begin to see impacts in North Carolina waters from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the fish and shellfish samples collected now can be tested and used as a baseline to compare to samples collected in North Carolina following observed impact from the oil spill to help determine the extent of contamination.

This information, should it show contamination levels high enough to cause a health risk, could help fisheries officials determine if they should close certain waters to seafood harvesting and fishing. The information would also offer proof of environmental impact, leading to economic impact, should the state seek financial compensation for damages from the oil industry.

For more information, contact Patricia Smith, public information officer with the Division of Marine Fisheries, at (252) 808-8025 or Tricia.Smith@ncdenr.gov, or Laura Leonard, public information officer with the Division of Environmental Health, at (919) 715-3204 or Laura.Leonard@ncdenr.gov.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are following their phenomenal job disseminating information about the 2010 H1N1 influenza virus with a similar effort on health effects of oil.

The website to find out about what oil does to people and how to handle this on a personal level, go to http://emergency.cdc.gov/gulfoilspill2010/.

I find it difficult to blame individuals in the oil industry for the Gulf Oil Spill when I’m driving an internal combustion engine every day.  We all have a karmic debt to pay in this tragedy.

There is uncertainty as to whether our state will be directly impacted.  Undoubtedly we will be affected indirectly, but whether the oil touches North Carolina beaches is uncertain.  Since the Gulf stream runs by our state, I would be surprised if we don’t see oil on our beaches.

Regardless, the CDC has begun compiling information regarding the health effects of this disaster.  The fact that they have labelled their web page “2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill” in a manner similar to the “2010 H1N1 influenza virus” is depressing.  It tacitly implies that there will be need to keep them separate, a “2011 Atlantic Oil Spill” to follow.

The federal government anticipates an active hurricane season this year.  The CDC has a nice webpage that gives advice on how to prepare for a hurricane (other than getting the heck out of Dodge!).

Guilford County Animal Control (GCAC) is reminding residents that leaving pets in parked, locked vehicles in warm weather could be very dangerous for the animal.  With the sudden warm snap in the weather, GCAC has already received several calls concerning animals locked in vehicles.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), it only takes ten minutes on an 85-degree day for the inside of your car to reach 102 degrees, even if the windows have been left open an inch or two.  Within 30 minutes, the automobile interior can reach 120 degrees.  Even when the temperature outside is 70 degrees, the inside car temperature may be as much as 20 degrees hotter.  GCAC reminds pet owners that leaving the windows cracked or leaving water in the vehicle for the pet to drink is not sufficient to keep the animal safe in the vehicle.  Animals do not sweat so their body temperature heats up quickly making them at risk of overheating (hyperthermia), heatstroke and death.

GCAC strongly encourages residents to leave their pets at home in warm weather. Leaving an animal in a hot vehicle is not only unfair and unsafe for the animal but may end in damage to the vehicle or animal cruelty citations.  GCAC officers will take measures to rescue an animal found in a closed locked vehicle, and will involve law enforcement if necessary for the pet’s well being.  GCAC will also attempt to educate the owner regarding the dangers of pets in vehicles.

Pets need fresh water daily, food and secure shelter and should be protected from heat-related injuries just as people do.  Pets should not be left in closed, locked vehicles even for a few minutes. Doing so may result in fatal consequences for your pet.

For more information, call Guilford County Animal Control at 641-5990.

Shakoor Hajat, Madeline O’Conner and Tom Kosatsky just published a “state of the art” review of what is known about and what is recommended to prevent hot weather impacts on humans (Lancet 2010;375:856-62).  This was a monumental effort involving the systematic review of 2099 papers and 60 websites.  They found that there are conflicting views on what should be done to prevent heat related illnesses and they made suggestions about what we should do based on scientific evidence.  Their advice boils down to (and this is taken from their article directly):

1. “Generally, increase fluid intake during periods of hot weather.  Elderly individuals should drink water frequently without waiting for thirst, and carers (caregivers) should be alert to the fluid status in individuals who are unable to care for themselves (eg, bedridden patients, children, cognitively impaired individuals).”

2. “Susceptible people should stay in a cool or air-conditioned environment during periods of hot weather…..  Wear loose-fitting clothes and take frequent showers or baths.”

3. “Reduce normal activity levels during hot weather.”

4. “Patients taking drugs that can potentially impede heat loss (diuretics, anticholinergics, neuroleptics) should be given preseasonal recommendations by their physicians about how to monitor themselves (eg, regular bodyweight measurements to monitor hydration status).

So stay cool this summer and drink plenty of water.