Though June has just arrived, summer descended upon Southern Nevada weeks ago. Temperatures climbed into the triple-digits seemingly overnight, which comes as no surprise to Las Vegas locals. For those who reside in the arid desert, summer is all about survival.

Hot, Hot Heat

June kicks off the official start of summer, and there are several precautions Nevadans should take to protect their health. Summer in this city can often be dangerous for people who do not guard themselves against the elements. Sunburns and heat exhaustion are common afflictions in the midst of summer, but young and elderly alike can be severely injured or even killed by the searing heat.

One of the most dangerous heat-related problems is heatstroke, or heat exhaustion, which typically occurs when an individual has been performing physical labor or exercise in a hot environment. Heatstroke is usually accompanied by dehydration, as the body essentially overheats without water in such a situation, and heat coping mechanisms such as sweating are lost.

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of heatstroke include a rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, high or low blood pressure, an inability to sweat, personality changes, dizziness, fainting, headache and nausea. Children and senior citizens are at high risk for heatstroke, as are those who drink alcohol in the heat and people with cardiovascular disease.

To treat heatstroke, the affected person must be moved to a cool, shaded area and covered with damp sheets or sprayed with cool water. Drinking cold water will also help ward off heatstroke.

A lot of Las Vegas residents forget they need to drink more water in the summertime to replace moisture lost via sweat, but experts recommend drinking two glasses of water prior to any physical activity to remain hydrated throughout the day. Some think thirst is a good indicator of dehydration, but as people age, thirst becomes a delayed reaction and could result in dehydration. People who have diabetes are also at a higher risk of becoming dehydrated.

Another common side effect of summer is the seemingly inevitable seatbelt burn. Metal belt buckles become scalding hot when parked outside all day, and they can cause severe burns if near skin. To prevent seatbelt burn, Las Vegans should use sunshades in their windshields to block the sun’s rays and prevent them from heating the metal. People can also use wrist sweatbands to cover buckles during the day.

The summer heat can even be deadly, especially for small children. In Las Vegas alone, hundreds of incidents of children being left alone in hot cars have been reported in recent years, and in many cases, those children have died. In 2005, state legislators passed a law making it a misdemeanor to intentionally leave children alone in cars. Still, plenty of parents mistakenly lock their children in cars during the summer, and the incidents usually occur because the parent had their mind on other things or forgot the child was in the car. If an individual is exiting a car, he or she should make it a point to check the car for children, animals or other living beings before locking the doors.

By Caitlin McGarry