YDF Remix #1: Staying Safe in the Heat (with Josh Blomgren, DO)

re-re-re-re-REEEEMIXXXXX TIME! Your Doctor Friends decided to follow the trend set by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark of the My Favorite Murder podcast, and upcycle a classic episode with a fun new twist! We've pared down our July 2023 episode about heat illness and added updates and commentary for your education and enjoyment, friends!

YDF will be taking a SUMMER OLYMPICS break until Labor Day, and we are working on some HOT new content ideas for YOU, dear listeners!

Check out our Instagram Reels for fun short-form educational content (with an Olympics lean over the next several weeks!), and we will see you again in September with slick new episodes for YOU!

IT'S HOT! Dangerous levels of heat have led to increased rates of heat illness and even death. Chalk is up as another story of the climate affecting our health. 

What is heat illness? Why does it happen? Who is at risk? And ultimately what you should do if you find yourself in a place with a dangerous heat warning?

LET'S ASK AN EXPERT!

Welcome Josh Blomgren, DO!

• Dr. Blomgren is our friend and colleague, a Sports Medicine Physician at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush for 15 years.
• He is the Chief Medical Officer for the Chicago Red Stars as well as team physician for Willowbrook High School.
• Pertinent to today’s topic, Josh has volunteered annually since 2007 at the Chicago Marathon overseeing the medical tents that are responsible for over 40,000 runners each year, a percentage of which will experience heat illness, our topic today!

Key highlights in this episode include:

What's the basic physiology behind heat illness?

What are the most common symptoms people develop with heat illness?

How can you tell if someone may be suffering from heat illness?

How hot is too hot? At what temperature should we be cancelling events?

What goes into calculating the "heat index"?

What is a wet bulb globe temperature?

Who is the most at risk for heat illness?

How can you cool someone down most effectively?

Dr. Blomgren recommends the following resources to learn about heat illness:

Resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics, including: "Climatic Heat Stress and Exercising Children and Adolescents"

"Top Safety Tips for Preventing Heat, Sun-Related Illnesses in Children this Summer"

"Extreme Heat: Keeping Kids Safe When Temperatures Soar".

The Korey Stringer Institute- information on "heat illnesses".

Cooling Centers by State- by the National Center for Healthy Housing.

Chicago Cooling Centers.

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