It’s a sweltering summer day where the air feels thick and the pavement radiates heat like a stovetop.
As many of us reach for a cold drink or seek shade, something else makes the temperature feel even hotter. The heat index, which combines temperature and humidity, doesn’t just make us sweat – it can significantly increase the risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
In this blog post, we’ll examine the surprising connection between extreme summer heat and heart health, exploring why those humid days can pose a greater threat to your well-being than you might expect and equipping you with knowledge on the heat index danger zone to protect yourself.
The Heat Index: More Than Just a Number
First, let’s ensure we understand what the heat index really means.
The heat index, often referred to as the “feels like” temperature, is a measure that combines air temperature and relative humidity. When humidity is high, our body’s natural cooling mechanism – sweating – becomes less effective, making us feel hotter than the actual air temperature suggests.
In other words, viewing the temperature at face value without considering the heat index isn’t telling the whole story.
For example, if the temperature is 90°F with 70% relative humidity, the heat index will be 106°F. They’re both obviously high temperatures. Yet, while the regular temperature would seem uncomfortable, the actual feeling with the heat index included is a temperature that could be life-threatening.
That’s the heat index danger zone. And it’s more than a big difference. It’s a significant difference that it can catch many people off guard, leading to an unexpected strain on the body, particularly the cardiovascular system.
The Heat Index’s Connection To Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Research has shown a clear correlation between high heat indices and an increased incidence of sudden cardiac arrest based on several elements:
- Increased Cardiovascular Strain: When the body works harder to cool itself, the heart needs to pump more blood to the skin’s surface for cooling. This increased workload can strain an already compromised cardiovascular system.
- Dehydration: High temperatures cause increased sweating, leading to rapid fluid loss. Dehydration can cause electrolyte imbalances and thicken the blood, making it harder for the heart to pump effectively.
- Blood Vessel Dilation: Heat causes blood vessels to dilate, which can lead to a drop in blood pressure. For those with heart conditions, this can be particularly dangerous.
- Increased Core Body Temperature: When the body can’t cool itself efficiently, its core temperature rises. Sweating is only one warning sign, though.Does the individual appear dizzy, confused or in pain from a headache? Any of these signs (besides the apparent loss of consciousness) may indicate the onset of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which puts significant stress on the heart.
- Medication Interactions: Some medications, particularly those for heart conditions and blood pressure, can affect the body’s ability to regulate temperature or retain fluids, intensifying the effects of heat.
Now that we know heat’s potential trigger points for causing sudden cardiac arrest, what can we do about it?
There are several steps that most of us would consider common sense, such as drinking water throughout the day, wearing loose clothing, finding cool spaces and only spending time outside when it’s not peak humidity – such as the late morning and early afternoon.
Yes, these are all important.
However, when it comes to saving a life, we have to go beyond these strategies and be more proactive. Because while we can prepare for what the heat index danger zone presents us with, the fact is that emergencies can still occur.
So let’s go deeper to truly get ready for heat-related emergencies around us with these crucial steps:
1. Learn CPR: Immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival from sudden cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association. Understanding modern CPR techniques such as hands-only CPR can help you:
- Administer the right amount of chest compressions per minute (100-120)
- Learn how deep those chest compressions need to be (2 inches, at least)
- Meet the correct pacing to help minimize interruptions in compressions
Don’t dismiss the opportunity to learn CPR if you’ve been trained on it before – if some time has passed since then, having a refresher course on CPR training to keep your skills sharp is a very smart move.
2. Know AED Locations: As we’ve written in a blog post, the time to familiarize yourself with the locations of the Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in your workplace and community is not when another person collapses from sudden cardiac arrest. It’s right now.
Once you’ve identified where your AEDs are located throughout your environment, ask yourself: “If I needed to save a life, could someone reach the nearest AED and retrieve it for me within 10 minutes?”
In the case of a team member or members working outside when the heat index elevates the temperature to sudden, unexpected heights, let’s say it’s a remote location rather than a loading dock or parking lot. Could that team be provided a portable AED they can keep in a vehicle so it’s easy to retrieve quickly?
If your answer for any of that is highly questionable, your next call should be to AED.US so we can help determine precisely how many AEDs your facility should have. On-site and off-site.
3. Get Your Home Battle-Ready For The Heat Index Danger Zone Too: We typically think of these emergencies happening among co-workers or during a public event. Of course, humidity and sudden cardiac arrest don’t treat your location any differently and pose just as much of a risk at home.Good news on that front: Did you know there’s an AED made exclusively for home use?
It’s true. Over 350,000 Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) cases occur annually in the US, with about 70% taking place in the home.
HeartSine Samaritan® PAD 350P AED, FDA-approved for over-the-counter use, gives you the clearest set of directions during a cardiac emergency, with visual and verbal prompts that are easy to follow. You don’t need to be an expert on operating an AED and don’t need a doctor’s prescription to get it.
You can rent this device from AED.US for as low as $49/month. Knowing you can safeguard your family and friends, especially if the unthinkable happens and you’re called to save a life, is worth that kind of value and then some.
Knowing The Heat Index Could Be One Life-Saving Number
We’re much more likely to face cardiovascular risks associated with high heat indices in the summer, but even the spring and fall months can catch us off guard with the occasional heat wave. Failure to plan and take proactive measures could greatly impact our heart health.
As climate change continues to drive more frequent and intense heat waves, more unusual conditions will exist. Fortunately, AED.US has the most advanced equipment on the market to keep the odds of saving a life highly in your favor. And with the effortless setup of devices like the HeartSine Samaritan® PAD 350P AED, you’ll be rescue-ready every time Mother Nature turns up the heat.
Give AED.US a call today at 888.652.1882 and one of our AED experts will be happy to direct you toward the ideal equipment to match your company size, budget and goals under our “roof.” We’re talking serious peace of mind that your team is well-protected – and that may be the best relief from the heat there is.