As the summer season officially beings, the Lancaster County Office of Aging has offered tips to beat the heat.

People are advised to wear loose-fitting clothing and stay somewhere with air conditioning. They should avoid hot foods and heavy meals. It is also important to stay hydrated, but people should avoid drinking alcohol or liquids with large amounts of sugar. When going outside, people should use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. A cool shower or bath can be rejuvenating when temperatures are high.

It is important to stay informed and learn how to prevent, recognize, and treat heat-related illnesses. Exposure to high temperatures, particularly when humidity is high and people perform strenuous physical activity, can cause three heat-related illnesses. Heat cramps is the mildest, followed by heat exhaustion, which happens when the body overheats. Without prompt treatment, this condition can lead to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion may start suddenly or progress over time, especially with prolonged periods of exercise. The symptoms can include cool, moist skin with goosebumps when in the heat; heavy sweating; faintness; dizziness; fatigue; weak, rapid pulse; low blood pressure upon standing; muscle cramps; nausea; and headache. If a person believes he or she has heat exhaustion, the person should stop all activity and move to a cooler place to rest. The person should drink cool water or sports drinks, and if symptoms worsen or do not improve within one hour, he or she should consult a doctor.

Anyone who is with someone who has heat exhaustion should seek immediate medical help if the person becomes confused or distressed, loses consciousness, or is unable to drink. If the person's core body temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, the person needs immediate cooling and urgent medical attention.