SACRAMENTO, CA - Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States.
According to the National Weather Service, heat causes more fatalities per year than floods, lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes combined. From 2000 to 2009, excessive heat killed on average 162 lives per year whereas tornadoes killed 62 people.
Even short periods of high temperatures can cause serious health problems. The greater Sacramento area is about to experience three days of above-average temperatures and the first triple-digit weather of the year.
Experts advise keeping hydrated: Drink two to four glasses of water per hour, particularly when outside and working or exercising. Find the shade and take breaks.
Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature. Body temperature can rise to 106 degrees or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if left untreated.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), warning signs of a heat stroke vary but can include red, hot, dry skin with no sweating; rapid pulse; and a throbbing headache. Dizziness, nausea, confusion and loss of consciousness can also occur.
If you see anyone with these signs, particularly on a hot day, outdoors, call for medical help.
The CDC also recommends taking the person to a shady area, wrapping in a cool, wet sheet on a day with low humidity or cooling him or her with a cold bath or shower.
Do not give the victim fluid to drink.
News10/KXTV