Hyperthermia simply means: excessive heat. This condition occurs when you body temperature reaches 40 C (104 F) or higher.

Recognizing the early stages of overheating will help you take steps to cool down before the condition becomes serious.

Some signs of heat cramps or heat exhaustion include: nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, headaches, muscle aches, cramps, and dizziness. However, if your body temperature continues to rise, you could find yourself in an emergency situation. In just hours, untreated heat stroke can damage your brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles. The severity of the injuries are directly related to how long treatment is delayed.

Common signs and symptoms of heat strokes are: an elevated body temperature, lack of sweat, skin that is red hot or dry and flushed, difficulty breathing, a rapid pulse, disorientation, confusion, hallucinations, agitation, and even seizures which can lead to a coma. A common complication is shock, which is sen by extremely low blood pressure, blue-tinged lips and nails, and cool, clammy skin.

Heat stroke can have many contributing factors, but one constant is an extremely hot environment. Any situation that increases your body temperature can lead to heat stroke if not handled properly. Even prolonged exposure to hot, humid weather, without periods of cool-down can cause non-exertional heat stroke. Older adults and those with chronic illnesses are frequently affected.

Exertional heat stroke occurs in people who are not used to working hard in higher temperatures. This usually happens during extreme weather changes when your body hasn’t had the chance to acclimatize itself to the suddenly hotter weather.

Certain medications can increase your risk due to the way they affect how your body responds to temperature. Be cautious if you take medication to narrow blood vessels, regulate blood pressure by blocking adrenaline, rid your body of salts and water, or reduce psychiatric symptoms. Stimulants of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and illegal stimulants such as cocaine can also make you more susceptible.

Some factors are beyond your control. If you are over 60-years-old, your central nervous system has lost some of its efficiency, making it harder to effectively manage temperature changes and moisture fluctuations. Your genetic make-up also impacts how efficiently your body adapts to heat. Chronic health conditions affecting your heart, lungs, kidneys, or weight can also increase your risk.

Take steps to avoid heat stroke when it’s extremely hot and humid. Reschedule or cancel out-door activity. If possible, shift time outdoors to the coolest times of the day, either early morning or after sunset. Be sure to remain hydrated. Drink 24 ounces of water or sports drink (not alcohol or caffeinated drinks) two hours before heavy work and consider another eight ounces right before working. While working, take a break to drink another eight ounces every 20 minutes. Dress in light coloured, lightweight, loose clothing that allows you to sweat and for your sweat to evaporate easily. Wear a hat in the sun. 

If you recognize that you or someone else may be experiencing heat stroke, call for medical help. Then, begin to cool the affected person by moving that person out of the heat and into an area of shade or air-conditioning. Remove excess clothing and apply cool water to a person’s skin. Fan over the dampened area of skin to promote sweating and evaporation. Place ice packs or cold wet towels on the head, neck, armpits, and groin. If possible, encourage the person to drink cool liquids. Continue doing this until the person’s body temperature has dropped below 38.8 C (102 F)

The more weight you carry, the faster your metabolism is running. That’s why it’s easiest to lose weight at the start of a diet. When you are overweight your metabolism is already running so high that any reduction in calories results in immediate weight loss.

When you lose significant amounts of body fat and muscle, your body needs fewer calories to sustain itself, making it much easier to regain weight after you’ve worked to lose it.

The best way to increase your metabolic rates is exercise. This include aerobic workouts to burn more calories in the short term and weight training to build muscles which will boost your metabolism in the long run.

Muscles burn more calories than fat, even at rest, so the more muscles you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate will be. Your body burns approximately 35 calories per pound of muscles a day while only 2 calories per pound of fat.

The 8th Annual Well Seasoned BBQ on the Bypass is on Sunday, September 22nd, 2013 from 10 am to 5 pm. It’s a free family event

Located in south Langley’s Campbell Valley Park, the centre takes in around 1200 mammals a year, including fawns, beavers, otters, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, bobcats, squirrels, and bear cubs.

Gail Martin, executive director and founder of the society, began taking in raccoons in the late 1980s in her own home. Now the centre is run by a small staff, a number of volunteers and interns who travel from all over the world to live at the centre and gain hands-on experience about caring for our wildlife.

Donations go to purchasing specialized baby formula for the busy spring and summer baby seasons. The formula costs the society more than $25000 a year.

Formula, medicine like vaccines, medical supplies and specialized foods cost Critter Care around $60000 a year.

Critter Care has been taknig in orphaned bears since 2004, returing more than 75 back to the wild so far. Five Bear cubs were taken in this year, after being orphaned and brought to Langley by conversation officers from around B.C. These bears spent the winter hibernating and will be released back into the wild.

While the centre is closed to the public mostof the year, Critter Care opens its gates to the public every year on July 13th and 14th, offering tours to see the baby raccoons, fawns, otters, and other wildlife.

• Keep your yard well maintained. An unkempt lawn will signal that the house is unoccupied and criminals will assume it’s an easy target.
• Make sure the trees, shrubs, and hedges are neatly trimmed so the doors and windows are clearly visible. Criminals will have fewer places to hide.
• Trim any tree limbs that can be used to gain access to the roof or upper-floor windows.
• Spread gravel underneath ground floor windows. The gravel makes footsteps easier to hear.
• Plant hostile vegetation . Thorny, prickly plants makes the area less hospitable.
• Make sure your landscaping design includes lighting. Use motion detecting lights for areas such as the front door, garage, shed, and backyard.
• When you’re finished, put all your equipment securely away. Don’t lend criminals a helping hand by leaving out items that can be used to break into the house.

The cream creates a protective film over the glass that keeps it from fogging. The protection lasts for roughly a week.

A little goes a long way, a small dab or two can work on even the  windshield.

• Strip beds, laundering skirts, matress covers, duvet covers, ect.
• flip over and rotate mattresses for even wear
• Empty dressers and throw out or donate anything you can’t or won’t use
• Clean the insides of dressers before putting everything back
• Soak shower heads in white vinegar to loosen mineral deposits and restore water pressure.
• Wash shower curtains and lines, using bleach if possible to remove mold.
• Empty out cabinets and throw out expired medication or old makeup. Wipe down before putting everything back.
• Give the kitchen walls a good washing
• After cleaning the food tap of debris, run the dishwasher empty except for a cup of lemon juice or bleach if there’s mold.
• Wash out and re-line cupboards and drawers
• Working from top to bottom, dust places not normally touched
• Vacuum lampshades, blinds, furniture and vents, using the appropriate attachments.
• Take down window coverings and wash them as the manufacturer instructions say.
• Disinfect light and  ceiling fan switches; temperature controls; door and drawer handles; and appliance and fixture handles.