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July 11, 2024 |  By: Mark Moran - Public News Service

Health care professionals urge caution in Iowa heat

heat

By Mark Moran - Public News Service

Health care experts are reminding Iowans to be careful in the summertime sun.

From sunburns and bike safety to water accidents and sports injuries, they remind people sometimes virtual care is available and reduces the time to see a provider.

Dr. Donna O'Shea, chief medical Officer of population health for UnitedHealthcare, said the company provides various tips to staying safe in the sun but reminds Iowans it is important to pay close attention to danger signs when outside for an extended period of time in Iowa's sometimes sweltering summertime heat and high humidity.

"There is such a condition as overheating and heatstroke," O'Shea pointed out. "It's important to recognize those signs early. The signs of overheating do include headaches, nausea or dizziness. And it can be especially important to watch children because their internal cooling systems aren't fully developed yet."

Iowa has escaped the deadly heat which had more than 36 million Americans under a warning in recent days, but temperatures are expected to reach into the mid-90s next week with higher humidity.

O'Shea reminded people medical assessment for a variety of injuries is also available virtually, 24/7.

She noted virtual care can be crucial in the state's rural areas where people often can't make it quickly to an urgent care facility or for helping decide if they need care for less serious conditions. And it's available 24/7.

"If it's related to hydration or heat stroke, if you're able to keep fluids down, virtual care can help you determine how much, how long to wait before you go to the emergency room," O'Shea explained. "Same thing even for sunburns or bike safety. Do I need to go in? Do you think I need stitches? We don't think about that."

O'Shea also reminded people to watch kids around water since drowning is the number one cause of death for children between the ages of one and four. The state health department said it is the leading cause of death by unintentional injury of young children in Iowa.