High Temps in Northern Virginia: Stay Cool With These Tips

With high temperatures from a "heat dome" baking Northern Virginia, stay safe and cool with these tips from doctors at Patient First, a network of urgent care centers with locations in Northern Virginia. Patient First blogs for Woodbridge Patch.

"Excessive heat exposure can cause several health problems including heat cramps, which are painful spasms of your arm, leg and/or abdomen muscles," a Patient First statement read. "People experiencing these symptoms should rest in a cooler place and drink water or fluids containing electrolytes."

Find local cooling center addresses here.

Heat exhaustion symptoms can involved headache, dizziness, heavy sweating, a fast heartbeat, muscle cramps, nausea, and cool, moist skin. 

"Move this person to a cooler location, apply cool wet cloths to their body, and give them cool water to drink," Patient First doctors recommended. "If the person vomits or refuses to drink, call 9-1-1. Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke."

To stay safe, wear light-weight clothing, drink plenty of water, avoid especially strenuous outdoor activity, and take frequent breaks to cool down. Patient First also recommends avoiding sunburn.