VOA慢速英语2021--在高温下保持安全

Staying Safe in Hot Temperatures

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

Hot weather kills hundreds of people every year. The World Health Organization estimates that from 1998 to 2017 more than 166,000 people died as a result of extreme heatwaves. That includes the more than 70,000 people who died during the 2003 heatwave in Europe.

Yet, heat-related deaths and sickness are preventable. There are steps you can take to stay safe during periods of very high temperatures.

Many things can affect your body's ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather.

For example, when the humidity is high, body sweat will not dry as quickly. This restricts the body's ability to release heat. So, pay attention to not only the temperature in your area but also the level of humidity.

Also, take note of nighttime temperatures. Experts say heat waves often become dangerous when the nighttime temperature does not drop much past the highest daytime temperature. Our bodies repair themselves at night when we sleep. So, hot nighttime temperatures put great pressure on the human body.

Some foods and drugs can also affect the body's temperature. Alcohol, caffeine, and sugar, for example, can weaken the body's system for cooling itself.

On its website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, explains that some people are at high risk of suffering from heat-related illnesses.

A person's age and weight play a part in surviving high temperatures. People over 65 years of age and under the age of two are especially at risk of becoming sick from heat.

Your general health is also important to consider. The CDC states that long-term diseases and conditions such as diabetes¹, heart disease and mental illness can put a person at greater risk.

On its website the CDC also explains different types of heat-related illness – what to look for and what to do.

They include heat rash, sunburn, heat cramps², heat exhaustion³, and, the most serious, heat stroke.

These are the symptoms of heat exhaustion:

heavy sweating

cold, damp skin that looks lighter⁴ than usual

fast, weak heartbeat

feeling sick to your stomach, or nausea⁵

muscle pains, often called cramps

tired and weak feeling

dizziness

headache

passing out

If you have these symptoms, you must move to a cool place, loosen your clothing, put a cool wet cloth on your body or take a cool bath and drink water. Get medical attention if you begin vomiting⁷, or if your sickness worsens or lasts for more than an hour.

The CDC calls heat stroke a medical emergency. Get medical help right away. These are the symptoms of heat stroke:

high body temperature of 39.4 degrees Celsius⁸ or higher

hot, red, dry, damp skin

fast, strong heartbeat

headache

dizziness

nausea

confusion

and passing out

Experts at the CDC say that "everyone should take these steps to prevent heat-related illnesses, injuries, and death" when the weather is very hot:

Stay inside in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible. Contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area, if possible.

Drink a lot of water even if you do not feel thirsty.

Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and use skin products that protect you from sunburn.

Do not try to do too much outside. Plan your outdoor activities carefully.

Get in cool water to lower your body temperature.

Check on friends or neighbors, especially those at-risk. Have someone do the same for you.

Never leave children or pets in cars.

Check your local news for health and safety updates.

Do not use heating elements, like indoor stoves and ovens, to cook food. This will make you and your house hotter.

Words in This Story

humidity – n. wetness in the air: the amount of wetness in the air

sweat – n. to produce a clear liquid from your skin when you are hot or nervous

vomit⁶ – v. to have the food, liquid, etc., that is in your stomach come out through your mouth because you are sick

pass out – v. to fall asleep or become unconscious

symptom – n. a noticeable change in the body or its functions that indicates the presence of a disease or other disorder⁹

damp – adj. somewhat or slightly wet

dizziness – n. a condition in which you feel like you are turning around in circles and are going to fall even though you are standing¹⁰ still

air-conditioned – adj. a space that has a mechanical system used for cooling and drying the air in a building, room, etc.

1 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

2 cramps   

n. 抽筋, 腹部绞痛, 铁箍 adj. 狭窄的, 难解的 v. 使...抽筋, 以铁箍扣紧, 束缚

参考例句：

• If he cramps again let the line cut him off. 要是它再抽筋，就让这钓索把它勒断吧。
• "I have no cramps." he said. “我没抽筋，"他说。

3 exhaustion   

n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述

参考例句：

• She slept the sleep of exhaustion.她因疲劳而酣睡。
• His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing.他站着睡着了，显然是太累了。

4 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

5 nausea   

n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶)

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕期常有恶心的现象。
• He experienced nausea after eating octopus.吃了章鱼后他感到恶心。

6 vomit   

v.呕吐，作呕；n.呕吐物，吐出物

参考例句：

• They gave her salty water to make her vomit.他们给她喝盐水好让她吐出来。
• She was stricken by pain and began to vomit.她感到一阵疼痛，开始呕吐起来。

7 vomiting   

吐

参考例句：

• Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting. 症状有腹泻和呕吐。
• Especially when I feel seasick, I can't stand watching someone else vomiting." 尤其晕船的时候，看不得人家呕。”

8 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

9 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。