Latest news with #AmericanVeterinarianMedicalAssociation
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Do you know the signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion? How to stay safe
As the heat index rises to dangerous levels around Kentucky, it can be risky to spend time out in the heat. Here's a look at how to stay safe and how to recognize symptoms of heat-related illnesses. Older people and young children are most at risk during extreme heat events. To stay safe and prepared, here's what the experts suggest:Stay hydrated and avoid sugary, caffeinated and alcoholic drinks Electric fans may not provide relief; instead, take a cooling shower or bath and find an air-conditioned spaceReduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods like fruits or saladChoose lightweight, loose-fitting clothes Head to a public library or other space with air conditioning Three main heat-related illnesses to be on the lookout for are heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If any of the following symptoms are evident in you or another person: move to a cooler area, loosen any clothing and sip cool water. Seek a medical professional if any of the symptoms don't improve within an hour. Heat cramps may be the first sign of illness that could lead to more serious symptoms. Cramps shows up as painful muscle cramps or spasms along with heavy sweating, according to NWS. Use firm pressure on the cramping muscles and massage them gently. Heat exhaustion will show up as heavy sweating, weakness or tiredness with cool and clammy skin. The person's pulse may be quick but weak and they may exhibit dizziness or nausea. Immediately move the person to an air-conditioned room, loosen clothing and apply cool, wet cloth to the skin. Heat stroke needs immediate medical attention, so call 9-1-1 or get the patient to a hospital. Heat stroke can appear as throbbing headaches, confusion, nausea, dizziness, body temperatures above 103 degrees. The patient's skin can also appear red with a lack of sweat. This is a serious illness and delays in medical care can be fatal. Groups that may be particularly vulnerable to heat include: Young children and infants Older adults People with chronic medical conditions Pregnant women It is never safe to leave a child, disabled person or pet locked in a car. For more information about how cars can heat up quickly when left in the sun, check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website in both English and Spanish. While this applies all year round, it is especially important on warm or hot summer days. Every year, hundreds of pets die from heat exhaustion because they are left in parked vehicles, according to the American Veterinarian Medical Association. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise almost 20° F in just 10 minutes, and almost 30° F in 20 minutes. The longer a pet, child or person is inside a car turned off in the heat, the higher it goes. At one hour, your vehicle's inside temperature can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Even on a 70-degree day, that's 110 degrees inside a car. Story continues after photo gallery. Para residentes hispanohablantes en Indiana, IndyStar tiene una página web de recursos para el tiempo en Español. La página web es accesible aquí y visite a encontrar el pronóstico del tiempo diario, condiciones próximas e información adicional de seguridad. Para información sobre el preveción de muertes por calor extremo y más visite This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Heat stroke symptoms and how to stay safe during Kentucky heat wave
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hot outside? It's even hotter in your car. Can you break into a car to save a child or pet?
High temperatures are coming to Louisville and the Bluegrass State. It's important to remember that if it's hot outside, it's even hotter in your vehicle. On hot summer days, always double check your backseat for passengers (whether that be pets or children), drink lots of water and be sure to watch for signs of heat cramps, exhaustion or stroke. It is never safe to leave a child, disabled person or pet locked in a car. For more information about how cars can heat up quickly when left in the sun, check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website in both English and Spanish. While this applies all year round, it is especially important on warm or hot summer days. Every year, hundreds of pets die from heat exhaustion because they are left in parked vehicles, according to the American Veterinarian Medical Association. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise almost 20° F in just 10 minutes, and almost 30° F in 20 minutes. The longer a pet, child or person is inside a car turned off in the heat, the higher it goes. At one hour, your vehicle's inside temperature can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Even on a 70-degree day, that's 110 degrees inside a car. Kentucky has a law that provides immunity from liability if a person damages a vehicle to remove a minor. But it does have some conditions: You must have "a reasonable, good faith belief ... that entry into the vehicle is necessary because a minor is in imminent danger." You must have contacted an emergency service before entering the vehicle. You should use no more force than necessary to remove the minor. After removing the minor from the car, you should move them to a safe location and remain with them until first responders arrive, unless emergency conditions make it necessary to leave the scene. The law says that if you do have to leave the scene, you should leave a written notice with your contact information, the reason entry was made into the vehicle, the minor's location and a notice that you have contacted authorities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that bystanders not wait more than a few minutes for a driver to return to the car and to first assess if the child is responsive or unresponsive. You should call 911 right away and get the child out of the car if they appear to be unresponsive. Be sure to check for unlocked doors first. Once the child is freed from the vehicle, they may need to be sprayed or toweled off with cool water until emergency responders arrive. If a child is responsive, the NHTSA recommends staying with the child outside of the vehicle until law enforcement and or first responders arrive to locate the driver. Kentucky doesn't have a law giving immunity from liability to rescue a pet from a hot car. If you see an animal left in a car during hot temperatures, Kentucky Humane Society suggests trying to find the owner and calling 911 immediately. In Louisville, there is an ordinance that allows a first responder to break into a vehicle if certain conditions are met, including making "reasonable effort" to locate the person responsible for the vehicle. It requires considering factors such as weather conditions, whether the vehicle is in the shade, and whether the pet is in distress. (This story has been updated to add more information.) This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Does Kentucky law allow you to break into a car to save a child or a dog?
Indianapolis Star
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
If it's hot outside, it's even hotter in your vehicle. Never leave pets or children unattended.
We're gong to see high temperatures next week in Indy and it's important to remember that if it's hot outside, it's even hotter in your vehicle. On hot summer days, always double check your backseat for passengers (whether that be pets or children), drink lots of water and be sure to watch for signs of heat cramps, exhaustion or stroke. It is never safe to leave a child, disabled person or pet locked in a car. For more information about how cars can heat up quickly when left in the sun, check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website in both English and Spanish. While this applies all year round, it is especially important on warm or hot summer days. Every year, hundreds of pets die from heat exhaustion because they are left in parked vehicles, according to the American Veterinarian Medical Association. The temperature inside a vehicle can rise almost 20° F in just 10 minutes, and almost 30° F in 20 minutes. The longer a pet, child or person is inside a car turned off in the heat, the higher it goes. At one hour, your vehicle's inside temperature can be more than 40 degrees higher than the outside temperature. Even on a 70-degree day, that's 110 degrees inside a car. More on heat safety: How to stay safe and the signs of heat stroke, exhaustion. What to know before Indy's heat wave Indiana law states that a person who forcibly enters a vehicle to remove a domestic animal is responsible for half of the cost of repairing the vehicle damage directly caused by the person's forcible entry if certain criteria aren't met. You have to reasonably believe that the dog is in imminent danger of dying or suffering serious harm, use no more force than needed and determine that the vehicle is indeed locked so forcible entry is necessary to remove the dog. You must also call 911, and remain with the dog until law enforcement or emergency responders arrive. Rescuers are, however, immune from all other civil or criminal liability for other property damage in this case. So the owner who left their pet in the vehicle can't sue or press charges against you. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that bystanders not wait more than a few minutes for a driver to return to the car and to first assess if the child is responsive or unresponsive. You should call 911 right away and get the child out of the car if they appear to be unresponsive. Be sure to check for unlocked doors first. Once the child is freed from the vehicle, they may need to be sprayed or toweled off with cool water until emergency responders arrive. If a child is responsive, the NHTSA recommends staying with the child outside of the vehicle until law enforcement and or first responders arrive to locate the driver. Like with rescuing animals, a person who causes damage without following proper steps — calling 911, checking for unlocked doors, etc. — could be responsible for some of the repair cost.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Warning: Cats at risk for bird flu, humans could be next
CLEVELAND (WJW) — As the bird flu, aka influenza A (H5N1), continues to ravage whole chicken and some cow populations across the country, the American Veterinarian Medical Association is now issuing a warning regarding your favorite feline pets. How to help farmers during bird flu outbreak in Ohio Cats are reportedly at risk of contracting the infection, although stray cats are at a higher risk than indoor pets. The animals are especially vulnerable to bird flu as they enjoy hunting wild birds from time to time. The flu can also be contracted from eating raw pet food and drinking unpasteurized milk. Symptoms to be on the lookout for in your pet include: fever, a hard time breathing, red eyes, depression and also neurologic issues like seizures. 'Cats appear to be particularly susceptible to severe illness, often resulting in death,' the AVMA said in a statement. 'Whether infected cats can infect other cats is currently unclear; however, that possibility cannot be dismissed.' Owners are also urged to be cautious while living with a sick animal. Egg prices are surging, so why are chicken prices stable? 'The risk of cat-to-human transmission is considered extremely low, but may increase with prolonged, unprotected exposure to infected animals,' the association said. At this point there have been no reported incidents of human-to-human transmission and the World Health Organization has not listed the current outbreak as a worldwide health emergency. The Ohio Department of Health reported the state's first probable human case of the illness two weeks ago. If you're worried your pet is sick with bird flu, call your veterinarian immediately. Cat owners are asked to keep their pets away from immunocompromised people and monitor other family members for signs the illness has spread. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
