Maimonides doctor tells how to beat the heat
With New York in the grip of a heat wave, a top doctor at Maimonides Medical Center is offering tips on how to stay safe when the temperature reaches into the 90s.
Dr. John Marshall, chairman of Emergency Medicine at Maimonides Medical Center at 4802 10th Ave., said everyone should be taking proper precautions.
“The body cools itself naturally by allowing heat to escape through the skin, which is called perspiration. If the body doesn’t cool properly or doesn’t cool enough, a person may suffer a heat-related illness,” said Marshall.
It’s important to be aware of the increased risk of heat-related related problems among seniors, people with chronic physical or psychiatric conditions and young children and babies, according to Marshall, who said their skin surface to body mass ratio is low. In other words, they often can’t perspire enough to cool down.