A 63-year-old man died from a heat stroke last Sunday while out working on fence posts in the hot summer temperatures.
Yazoo County Coroner Ricky Shivers said Louis Lee Anderson died in his carport after working on a fence on Highway 432 near Pickens.
Shivers said Anderson left his home around 5 p.m. Sunday to work on a fence on his family’s land. Around 7:30 p.m. Anderson’s 90-year-old mother saw him lying on the concrete under a carport.
“His brother then began to perform CPR on him immediately,” Shivers said. “About five minutes later, his sister-in-law, who is a registered nurse, also began performing CPR on him until an ambulance arrived at the home.”
Medical personnel continued to work on Anderson, who was unable to be revived. Shivers said he was pronounced dead at the scene.
“CPR was performed on him for over an hour,” Shivers said. “When I got to him, he was still very hot to the touch and very sweaty. He had an extensive medical history as well. His death was ruled accidental due to the heat.”
Shivers urges that the elderly and especially those with a medical history to be cautious while out in the hot temperatures.
Take these steps to prevent heatstroke during hot weather:
• Wear loosefitting, lightweight clothing. Wearing excess clothing or clothing that fits tightly won't allow your body to cool properly.
• Protect against sunburn. Sunburn affects your body's ability to cool itself, so protect yourself outdoors with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15. Apply sunscreen generously, and reapply every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or sweating.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Staying hydrated will help your body sweat and maintain a normal body temperature.
• Take extra precautions with certain medications. Be on the lookout for heat-related problems if you take medications that can affect your body's ability to stay hydrated and dissipate heat.
• Never leave anyone in a parked car. This is a common cause of heat-related deaths in children. When parked in the sun, the temperature in your car can rise 20 degrees F (more than 6.7 C) in 10 minutes.
• It's not safe to leave a person in a parked car in warm or hot weather, even if the windows are cracked or the car is in shade. When your car is parked, keep it locked to prevent a child from getting inside.
• Take it easy during the hottest parts of the day. If you can't avoid strenuous activity in hot weather, drink fluids and rest frequently in a cool spot. Try to schedule exercise or physical labor for cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or evening.
• Get acclimated. Limit time spent working or exercising in heat until you're conditioned to it. People who are not used to hot weather are especially susceptible to heat-related illness. It can take several weeks for your body to adjust to hot weather.
• Be cautious if you're at increased risk. If you take medications or have a condition that increases your risk of heat-related problems, avoid the heat and act quickly if you notice symptoms of overheating. If you participate in a strenuous sporting event or activity in hot weather, make sure there are medical services available in case of a heat emergency.
