Staying Safe in Oklahoma’s Extreme Heat: Expert Tips from OU Health

Oklahoma summers can turn dangerous fast — and doctors warn that most of the resulting deaths and injuries are preventable.

On one day in late July, Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) responded to more than 30 heat-related calls in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Those calls are part of more than 170 such cases the state’s largest ambulance provider has logged since July 1, as temperatures and heat indexes rose well above 100 degrees. Since EMSA covers only the two metro areas, the data offers just a snapshot of the statewide threat.

That surge is part of a longer, deadlier pattern. From 2013 to 2022, 141 people died from heat-related causes, and more than 85% of those deaths happened between June and August, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

When temperatures climb, hospitals see the toll firsthand. People with chronic medical conditions face the greatest risk during extreme heat, and doctors at OU Health, the University of Oklahoma’s academic health system, want Oklahomans to know that nearly all of those deaths and injuries were preventable.

“We’re seeing a lot of heart failure,” said internal medicine physician Dr. Joanne Skaggs, M.D., associate chief medical officer for Adult Services at OU Health. “Emergency rooms are also seeing patients who are dehydrated, dizzy, and weak during long stretches of extreme heat.”

Know the Warning Signs

Heat-related illness builds in stages, and knowing the difference can save a life.

Heat exhaustion happens when the body starts losing its battle to stay cool. Warning signs include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, headache, dizziness, nausea, weakness, and cool, clammy skin. If you notice these signs, move to a cool or shaded place, sip water, loosen your clothing, and rest until you feel better.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency — the body can no longer cool itself, and its temperature rises to dangerous levels.

"But once someone crosses into heat stroke, it's a 911 call," said Dr. Skaggs.

Warning signs of heat stroke include:

• Confusion
• Slurred speech
• Hot, red skin
• A racing heartbeat
• Fainting or passing out

Heat stroke can damage the brain, heart, and kidneys within minutes — so don’t wait to call for help.

Who Is Most at Risk

Heat does not affect everyone equally. Outdoor workers, older adults, young children, pregnant women, and people with heart disease, diabetes, or other chronic conditions face the greatest danger, Dr. Skaggs explained.

“Heat is hardest on the people who can least afford it,” she said. “They can get into trouble even while sitting inside a hot house or a parked car.”

Certain medications can also make it harder for the body to handle heat, adding another layer of risk. Check on older neighbors and family members during heat waves, and never leave children or pets in a vehicle, even for a few minutes.

How to Stay Safe

Water, shade, and rest are not optional during an Oklahoma summer.

“Drink before you feel thirsty because by the time you’re thirsty, you’re already behind,” Dr. Skaggs said.

She also recommended the following steps to protect yourself from dangerous heat:

• Avoid sugary or alcoholic drinks, which can worsen dehydration.
• Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
• Plan outdoor work and activities for the cooler morning or evening hours.
• Pace yourself, especially if you’re not used to working in the heat.
• Take breaks in air conditioning or shade, and listen to your body. If you feel lightheaded, confused, or weak, stop and cool down.

Students Face Extra Risk in August

Football, cross-country, soccer, and marching band practices all begin while Oklahoma is still at its hottest, putting students at serious risk. Exertional heat stroke — when hard exercise in high heat overwhelms the body’s cooling system — is the most common cause of preventable death among high school student-athletes, according to the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association.

Marching band members face similar risks from long outdoor rehearsals, though they’re often overlooked because they aren’t classified as athletes, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

The first two to three weeks of preseason carry the greatest risk. The body needs about two weeks of gradual exposure to heat to adjust, and students who spent the summer indoors haven’t built that tolerance. Football players face added risk because helmets and pads trap heat against the skin.

Parents, coaches, and peers should watch for heat stroke warning signs during and after practice and call 911 right away.

Lowering the student’s body temperature before the ambulance arrives gives the best chance of full recovery, according to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. Full-body immersion in cold water works best — a stock tank, wading pool, or tarp filled with ice water can serve as a makeshift cooling tub while help is on the way.

For the most severe emergencies, OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center is home to the state’s first adult Level I Trauma Center and its first and only pediatric Level I Trauma Center, providing the highest level of emergency and specialty care around the clock.

Heat exhaustion — cramps, mild dehydration, and sore muscles that improve with rest and fluids — can be treated at an OU Health Emergency Room & Urgent Care clinic in your local community or at a sports medicine appointment.

OU Health sports medicine physicians, orthopedic surgeons, and physical therapists care for athletes at every level in Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Tulsa, including young athletes seen through the sports medicine team at Oklahoma Children’s OU Health.

OU Health brings together patient care, research, and education to help keep communities across the state healthy in the summer heat and all year long.

To find a doctor or learn more, visit OUHealth.com.